FAB FOUR PROVIDE HOPE FOR FUTURE
LIAM DAISH has pinpointed four good reasons why the Fratton faithful should be optimistic over their club’s future.
Dan Gifford, Harry JewittWhite, Alfie Bridgman and Toby Steward.
Daish left as Pompey Academy’s lead professional development phase coach at the season’s end, yet during five years at Fratton Park oversaw the development of the highly-regarded quartet.
The former Republic of
Ireland international has recently raised questions over Tornante’s funding of the youth set-up and its lack of a development group.
Nonetheless, he remains encouraged when it comes to the progress of academy graduates Gifford, Jewitt-White, Bridgman and Steward.
He told The News: ‘Absolutely Pompey fans should be positive about some of the kids coming through at the moment.
‘As ever, players develop at different times and with some it’s about whether the penny drops early.
‘With Dan Gifford, for instance, under-18s football was no longer challenging for him, so he went to Bognor because you know he can cope physically and hit the ground running.
‘For Alfie Bridgman, it didn’t come until just after Christmas. He excelled in those last three months, suddenly he was ready to go out on loan at Bognor and again did really well.
‘But he wasn’t ready at the beginning of the season, he wasn’t ready at the same time as Dan.
‘What helped with both was Robbie Blake at Bognor. He knows the game inside out, especially forward players like Alfie and Dan, which was a huge help.
‘Harry Jewitt-White has probably spent more time around the first team in the last year than anyone and held his own.
‘I thought he might have got his debut at the end of the season, but he’ll have to be a bit more patient for it.
‘While Toby Steward is an excellent prospect and only going to get better.
‘All four will only improve if they keep the same attitude, but they do need a pathway and don’t want to get lost.
‘The work starts on June 20 when they come back – and will need to hit the ground running.’