Portsmouth chief lauds owner Michael Eisner after financial injection funds swoop for Ipswich's Conor Chaplin

Andy Cullen has revealed the extent of Pompey’s owners’ financial commitment to bring Conor Chaplin back home.

And, amid late transfer window drama, it was chairman Michael Eisner’s permission to ramp up John Mousinho’s playing budget which ensured the Blues capitalised on an opportunity ‘too good to turn down’.

On a busy deadline day, long-time targets Josef Bursik, Makenzie Kirk and Franco Umeh arrived at Fratton Park - yet it was Chaplin who, ultimately, captured the majority of the headlines.

The 28-year-old’s sudden availability alerted Pompey, who were eager to capture the Ipswich striker who had bid farewell to the south coast in August 2018.

And, according to their chief executive, owners Tornante crucially agreed to increase the playing budget in order to secure the former Premier League man on a season-long loan.

‘We needed Michael Eisner’s support to make it happen’

Cullen told The News: ‘Conor’s availability came rather late in the window, whereas the others we had been tracking for some time and were long-term projects. We were able to move pretty swiftly to bring him in, it was too good an opportunity to turn down.

‘Over the summer, we have invested in transfer fees for a number of players, extra wages have also been committed over what was spent last year, and I am really, really grateful to Michael and the board for allowing us to go and get one more, so to speak. What a signing it is too.

‘It was in the last week of the window when this one became available. Unlike the other three, which had been going on for some time. In fact, some of the signings we’ve been tracking since the window opened.

‘But, like everything, you can't conclude this on the first day of the window, you have to be patient as the window unravels. Some things have to happen at other clubs before you can make things happen yourselves.

‘There's a degree of being persistent, being patient, doing your due diligence, being reactive and, as we saw with Conor, being agile.

‘When this opportunity came up, we went to them (the owners) about Conor and pointed out this was a Premier League player last season, so it was going to take some commitment to make it happen.

‘I don’t want to go into budgets, I never do, but it’s one where we needed their support to make it happen - and I am thankful that, when we had that conversation, they agreed.

‘We went through the different options and they were hugely supportive, while they also know the player, which helps.’

Familiar faces consulted over potential Fratton Park reunion

Chaplin spoke to Blues captain Marlon Pack at length ahead of returning for his second Fratton Park spell

While his former League Two title-winning skipper Michael Doyle is now on Mousinho’s coaching staff following his appointment last month.

Their influence, plus the lure of reuniting with Pompey, also helped convince the Ipswich man to come back to the south coast after a seven-year absence.

‘Conor believes in Portsmouth project’

Cullen added: ‘Conor’s affection for the club played a factor, while he knows a few players here, in addition to Michael Doyle, who is now on our coaching team.

‘But, ultimately, he believes in the project. Conor is at the peak of his career at his age and still has a lot of playing time, he will have made his decision based on what was put in front of him.

‘That would have been given to him by Rich (Hughes) and of course John before committing - and no doubt also one or two players here.’

Your Next Pompey Read: The seven former Pompey players who made deadline day moves