What Portsmouth boss is thinking as he weighs up future amid Stoke City interest
Stoke City are weighing up a move for John Mousinho with the Bristol City talk quelled. Now former Ipswich Town and Aston Villa Paul Lambert has offered his view on the Pompey boss’ managerial situation.
John Mousinho is weighing up whether he can take Pompey forward as doubt remains over his Fratton future.
That’s the view of former Aston Villa and Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert, with Stoke City considering a move for the Blues head coach.
Lambert on Mousinho: ‘John would have to think and weigh it up himself’
Lambert has lauded the job Mousinho has carried out keeping his team in the Championship for a third successive season.
And the former Scottish international has backed the 40-year-old to be a success wherever he ends next term, with his stock on the rise three-and-a-half years into his first management role.
Uncertainty has surrounded Mousinho’s position since Bristol City showed interest in taking him to Ashton Gate at the end of the campaign.
The Robins turned elsewhere in their managerial hunt, however, with Bournemouth’s Tommy Elphick the front runner with Lincoln City’s Michael Skubala.
But The News reported Stoke are looking at Mousinho as a potential successor to Mark Robins, who is under pressure at the bet365 Stadium after a disappointing campaign.
Lambert has spent 16 years in management before more recently taking up a technical director role with German side Borussia Dortmund. He sees a situation where Mousinho is taking time to weigh up what’s best for him, before deciding where he will be next season.
Speaking to Casinostugan, Lambert said: ‘I think John Mousinho has done really well. They were in a ropey position for a number of months, I think he did really well to stay up.
‘I guess John would have to think and weigh it up himself. I'm not saying he’s safe, you're never safe in football, you're only a few games away from the sack.
‘So he is probably thinking about whether they can kick on or if he needs to try something new. I don't think you can fault him for what he's done. I think he's done a really good job, to be fair, at the tail end here.
‘Wherever he goes, I think he will do well.’
When speaking about the uncertainty over Mousinho’s future last week, Pompey chief executive Andy Cullen made it clear he’s not in position to make definitive promises over his head coach’s future.
He said: ‘I’m not John Mousinho.
‘None of us are here forever and we’re custodians of our football club. I’m not going to be here forever, but I’ve been privileged to be at this football club for five years.
‘At some point I will move on, at some point everyone will move on to a new job.
‘What’s consistent is the football club, so I wouldn’t insult anyone by saying any of our staff are going to be here forever - it wouldn’t be true.
‘So all we can do is stay focussed on this summer and taking the football club on.
‘We’re excited by what we’ve achieved so far - and there’s more to come.
‘We know we can improve and we all want to create the conditions for success and build something that’s great.
‘I want to build something, so the next person who comes in has a real platform to take it further.
‘That’s the situation we’re in, so it wouldn’t be right for me to come and say we’re going to be here - it wouldn’t be right.
‘I can’t stop the speculation, but I know I’ve got people really committed to progressing the football club.
‘So we’ll work together and do so until such times as someone says we’re no longer at Portsmouth Football Club.’