‘I don’t want to mug off faithful’: Portsmouth boss’ searing honesty over future as Bristol City talk gathers pace
The very latest tonight from the Pompey boss as he addresses fans over talk of joining Bristol City, the level of interest from his club’s Championship rivals and the impact of speaking with honesty to the Fratton Faithful over the issue on his PO4 legacy.
John Mousinho admitted he doesn’t know what his Pompey future holds as he vowed to be honest with supporters over reported Bristol City interest.
The Blues boss acknowledged there appears to be ‘interest from their end’ when it comes to links with his club’s Championship rivals, but promised there’s been no direct contact from the Robins with him or his employers.
Mousinho on Pompey future: ‘I don’t want to disrespect fans and mug them off’
Mousinho’s future is tonight firmly under the spotlight with his stock at a high after keeping Pompey in the Championship for a third term, off the back of winning the League One title.
With talk circulating, the man who turns 40 tomorrow acknowledged the importance of how he addressed supporters on his Blues legacy. That centred on sending the Fratton Faithful an honest message on how things stand for him and his future.
Mousinho said: ‘I answered a question on this early on in my tenure as a supporters’ conference.
‘We’d had that good start and were in the midst of that 27-game unbeaten run. It’s popped up a couple of times since, but never a huge amount.
‘In these moments either way your legacy and how you’re seen by the fans is defined by your answer.
‘So if I said I want to be at Portsmouth for the rest of my life and there’s no interest in anything else, which has happened before and is really damaging - I think that is actually really disrespectful to the fans.
‘I would never want to do that, I would never want to lie and I would never want to say I’m here for life.
‘I absolutely love the football club, I make no bones about that. I love living here and you’ll see more walking up and down Palmerston (Road) with my family and dog.
‘I love living here, but I don’t know what the future holds.
‘It’s always complex, it’s not just I’m leaving and that’s it. It doesn’t work like that and vice-versa the club can get rid of me pretty much whenever they want.
‘That’s what I’d say. I’m not sitting here actively looking to leave whatsoever. I want to progress the club.
‘We’ve managed to achieve something this year and I want to build on that next year.
‘By the same token I don’t want to disrespect the fans and mug them off - I don’t think that’s the right thing to do.’
Mousinho on Bristol City: ‘If there’s interest it’s from their end’
There has been talk of Bristol City interest in Mousinho in the past, but the Robins are putting a new football operation in place with the appointment of a sporting director - a role former Arsenal technical director James Ellis is being touted for.
A long-term appointment to head coach Gerhard Struber is expected to arrive this summer, with Roy Hodgson in temporary charge at Ashton Gate. Mousinho has been mentioned with the position along with Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard.
When addressing the Bristol City reports, the Pompey boss stated neither he or his club have been contacted directly - with any interest driven on the part of the outfit owned by billionaire Steve Lansdown.
Mousinho said: ‘That (his awareness of Bristol City interest) is exactly as it appears. I’m obviously aware of it (the reports) because everyone was messaging me and sending screenshots.
‘If there’s interest it’s from their end, I’ve not spoken to them and they’ve not contacted Portsmouth and it’s exactly that at the moment.
‘Thankfully that’s also the way it was reported and seems like it was just interest from their end but, at the minute, absolutely not (any contact).’