Why Portsmouth will not promise John Mousinho will stay at Fratton Park amid Stoke City interest
The Pompey CEO speaks with honesty about the assurances he can offer over the head coach’s future.
Andy Cullen is adamant he’s not in a place to guarantee John Mousinho will remain at Fratton Park this summer.
And the Pompey chief executive insisted it would be wrong of him to make promises he can’t keep, with there continuing uncertainty over Mousinho’s future.
Mousinho remains of interest to Stoke City, as they consider the future of under-pressure boss Mark Robins.
That comes off the back of Bristol City weighing up the Blues head coach for the Ashton Gate hot-seat, as they chase a successor for Roy Hodgson.
The doubt over what lies ahead has called for some fans to demand the club be front-footed over what comes next for Mousinho, but Cullen is clear he’s not in a place to provide those assurances.
And the Blues CEO has been forthright in his riposte regarding the club taking more control over what happens next, even if the key decision makers at PO4 are aligned.
When asked if he could offer clarity over what happens with Mousinho, Cullen 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.’
Cullen’s assessment comes off the back of the chief executive providing clarity over a continuing lack of approach for potential suitors for Mousinho.
He told The News yesterday: 'We’ve had no contact from any football club - this year. The situation is exactly the same, no change.
‘We’re all in a position where we’re aligned. We’ve consolidated the club for a third year in the Championship.
‘We’re at that stage now where we want to look forward as to where we go next.
‘A successful head coach, a bit like a successful player, is going to attract speculation and interest.
‘But we all want to progress, there’s nothing more to report and there’s no approaches from any club for our manager or sporting director.
‘John and I were together last Tuesday when he was apparently down at Bristol!
‘We were together again yesterday. He’ll have a break, but we will be talking most days in terms of what we’re doing with player recruitment.
‘Every day will bring conversations over what we’re doing to improve the squad - we’re into that mode now.
‘We’re in a position where we’re looking to progress the club - we’ve all got contracts and we’re working to build.
‘John is the head coach of Portsmouth Football Club, Rich is the sporting director of Portsmouth Football Club and I’m the CEO - I can’t stop the speculation. I just can’t stop it because I’ve got talented people in the building.'