Pompey’s right-back woes show Posh are only winners in the saga over Thompson

Nathan Thompson wasn’t a winner as his future was finally secured on Friday, writes Jordan Cross.

And Pompey are certainly currently on the debit side when it comes to the way the rightback position has played out across the summer.

The only party to emerge positively, as things stand, are one of Pompey’s significant promotion rivals.

And that has to be frustrating as Kenny Jackett desperately searches for a defensive formula.

Peterborough’s delight was palpable in the words expressed by boss Darren Ferguson after being able to unveil the 28-yearold last Friday.

‘I will be honest and say I am very surprised we have been able to get him,’ said the boss.

The surprise at this end was the manner in which many Pompey fans were happy to wave Thompson off – after 78 appearances and a recordbreaking season stamped with his hallmark of dependability and solidity.

Four league games into the new campaign, it’s becoming clear many underestimated his value. Not that Pompey could’ve managed the situation any better. Nor can blame particularly be apportioned Thompson for searching for greater financial security.

In many ways that’s the

frustration. Questions could certainly be asked of those advising the man who arrived from Swindon in 2017, however.

A Championship contract was intimated by his advisors but never materialised – or perhaps the right man didn’t get the right job to action the move.

Pompey, meanwhile, had their own squad planning to do, leading them to James Bolton who, after being handed a three-year deal, is clearly seen as the future of the position.

The summer silence over Thompson preceded a sheepish return to train at Hilsea two weeks ago with no deal in the bag. Those who clamoured for the player to be handed a new contract did so honestly but perhaps hadn’t factored in the difficulty of moving on one of the existing options or being left with three right-backs and no budgetary leeway to add another face somewhere else.

But Bolton’s injuries and Anton Walkes’ travails have put the right-back scenario back under the microscope with Ross McCrorie’s impressive cameo at Sunderland followed by wholesale defensive carnage on Tuesday night.

We withhold judgement on the Shrewsbury man but there’s no doubt the outcome is currently a downgrade and growing headache in the position. Nathan Thompson played 78 games and established himself as a key man