Catlin says Blues can keep their prized assets

MARK Catlin is confident Pompey can fight off potential League One interest in the Blues’ prized out-ofcontract players.

Instead, Fratton Park’s summer departures will be dictated by Danny Cowley – unless Championship offers emerge.

The Blues have 11 players whose deals are heading for expiry, with discussions over their futures taking place this week. Duncan Turnbull has already been informed of his release, while Cowley has publicly declared his intent to activate an option to retain Haji Mnoga.

There are concerns that Tom Naylor, Craig MacGillivray and Jack Whatmough could attract Championship attention.

However, in terms of

League One competition, Catlin is convinced Pompey can fight off potential interest in any player they intend to keep.

The Blues’ chief executive Catlin told The News: ‘If Danny was determined enough to keep any of our out-of-contract players and we were in competition against League One clubs to do so, I am confident we’d be able to keep them.

‘Every player has a relevant value and, given the current state of finances at all football clubs, if there was a concerted effort from us to try to keep a player that’s out of contract, I am sure that we could.

‘At the end of the day, if a player wanted £100,000 a week then naturally you would be constrained by finances, you can’t blindly offer a salary out of sync with our budget and squad However, given what I know at this level in League One, and to a degree in the Championship, there’s going to be a major downward shift in football finances.

‘I stress, if we really wanted to keep a player I believe we would have the capabilities to do so.’

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