'The American way': Portsmouth chief addresses Michael Eisner's lack of communication with Fratton faithful
The Eisner family haven’t spoken to Portsmouth local media since July 2024
Andy Cullen defended the Eisner family’s lack of public communication and insisted: It’s the way of American owners.
And Pompey’s chief executive is adamant he remains ‘comfortable’ speaking on their behalf to fans and the media.
Chairman Michael Eisner’s most recent interview with The News was in July 2024, for a feature specifically focusing on his hugely successful 50-year career in TV and film.
Eric Eisner hasn’t spoken to The News or BBC Radio Solent since April 2024 - on the day of the League One title celebrations on Southsea Common.
Since then, Michael Eisner and sons Eric and Breck have been involved in recording two video interviews exclusively for the Pompey Supporters’ Trust, most recently in November 2025.
However, Cullen reasons their approach to communication reflects how the vast majority of American owners operate when running sporting teams.
And he will always be available to talk, along with manager John Mousinho and sporting director Rich Hughes.
‘As is true across most US sports’
Cullen told The News: ‘In common with most American owners, the Eisners are comfortable with myself, John (Mousinho) and Rich (Hughes) speaking to the media and fans in terms of the day-to-day stuff.
‘To the best of my knowledge, I don’t believe I have ever shied away from an interview. If I had, then that’s a different question. I would like to think I have never said no.
‘As is true across most US sports, owners generally don’t come out and make statements. I am relatively comfortable with speaking as and when I am needed. Hopefully you (the media) also get that from the other key members of staff in Rich and John.
‘That’s my position on it and I think it is relatively consistent. The owners entrust the running of the football club to the executive team, it’s not like an owner which is UK-based and in the football club every day.
‘My previous owner was one such individual. Pete Winkelman lived in Milton Keynes and was more than happy to be around the club on a daily basis, so he was probably a bit more high profile.
‘You tend to see that with some UK owners, although they are very short on the ground in the Championship.
‘If the PST ask for a video, Michael will do a video. I would hate to think anyone has ever been denied an interview with me.
‘Michael was over in November, Breck wasn’t with them and then came over for Millwall, while Eric was here for the Southampton game. So we’ve had some visibility from them in the last three months. In four of the last eight league home games, there has been an Eisner family presence.’
Reducing social media interaction
The Eisners have also noticeably reduced their Pompey interaction on social media in the 18 months since the Blues returned to the Championship.
It’s a position Cullen empathises with, having himself turned his back on X (then called Twitter) in May 2021, after leaving as MK Dons’ executive director to move to Fratton Park as Mark Catlin’s replacement.
Instead he prefers to speak with fans face-to-face, particularly on a match-day, when he can be found walking around the ground and mixing with supporters before kick-off.
‘I would rather communicate face-to-face with people’
He added: ‘With social media, once you go on it then you have to engage and go backwards and forwards - and that’s where it can become a bit tricky.
‘You can’t pick and choose your fights, you’re either in or you are out. I made the decision that I am out. I would rather communicate face-to-face with people on a match-day.
‘I would rather do the fans’ forums when needed, be available, be visible, speak to the local press. I really don’t see what I would gain from having to engage with people who I don’t know I’m talking to.
‘On match-days, I walk around the ground. People might feel more comfortable coming forward to speak to me in that situation as well. I haven’t got a group of minders or anybody around me.
‘I try to do all the stands, the Victory Lounge, the Fanzone, the ticket office and the shop. I also make sure my stewards are looked after because you have a lot of staff working on a match-day as well.
‘Probably most of the questions I tend to get asked are not necessarily football-based, they tend to be operational based, stadium based or ticketing based. And, if I haven't got the answers, I’ll always make sure I will get back to them.’