Portsmouth recruitment chief's honest Jacob Farrell admission after transfer disappointment
The left-back will be turning out for his third A-League club in two-and-a-half years
Rich Hughes admits Jacob Farrell’s Pompey failure is primarily down to availability rather than talent.
Now the Blues sporting director is hoping the left-back’s Sydney FC loan can help secure a permanent move away from Fratton Park.
.jpeg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
Farrell has no future at Pompey, having totalled just three appearances amid persistent injury since his move from Central Coast Mariners in July 2024.
The 23-year-old is contracted until the summer of 2028, yet a season-long move back to the A-League is seen as an opportunity to shine in regular first-team football to drive his permanent departure.
And with Sydney’s season kicking off against Western Sydney Wanderers on October 16, Hughes is banking on a fresh start benefiting all parties.
‘His future probably lies away from Portsmouth’
He told The News: ‘Jacob will probably see his future away from the football club.
‘Obviously the A-League starts soon, so hopefully he gets himself in the team and gets a run of games, then we can see where we find ourselves moving forward. But for Jacob, his future probably lies away from Pompey.
‘He’s had a tough run here with injuries, he’s a very nice young man and we wish him all the best.
‘However, given the fact he’s been here for a couple of years and not been able to sustain that level of availability, he probably finds himself in a scenario where his future will lie away from the football club.
‘It is down to availability rather than talent. Sometimes there’s nothing more scientific to it. If it hasn’t worked for a period of time, sometimes there needs to be a change in environment for people and they need to go and get regular game time.
‘Hopefully Jacob can go on and flourish somewhere else.’
Third A-League club in two-and-a-half years
Sydney represents Farrell’s third A-League club, having begun his career at Central Coast Mariners.
He then spent the second half of last season on loan at Western Sydney Wanderers, where he featured seven times, including at centre-half, only for a groin injury to cut short his campaign.
Earlier this summer, Mousinho admitted the Blues were prepared to let Farrell leave on either a loan or permanent deal after becoming frustrated with his lack of availability.
He subsequently joined Sydney on loan last month, with Hayden Matthews and Adrian Segecic’s former club having finished fifth in the A-League last season, although they progressed to the grand final, where they lost 1-0 to Auckland.
Hughes added: ‘The loan is very much the intention for Jacob to play and put himself in a great spot physically, while also having that awareness that people know he’s fit and durable.
‘Then hopefully that can give him an opportunity to go and showcase his talents.’