Portsmouth still toasting Danny Cowley's prized legacy after popular trio commit futures to Fratton Park
The full-back has signed a new two-year Fratton Park deal after 111 appearances and six goals
Danny Cowley’s impressive Fratton Park legacy continues, with yet another of his recruits pledging his Pompey future.
It was July 2022 when the then-Blues head coach strengthened his right-back options by signing two within seven days.
A 21-year-old Zak Swanson arrived from Arsenal on a free transfer on the eve of the pre-season tour to San Pedro del Pinatar, joining his new team-mates out in Murcia.
Then, during the six-day Spanish stay, Joe Rafferty also became available following his release from Championship side Preston, signing upon the team’s return.
Almost four years later, Swanson has today agreed a fresh two-year Fratton Park deal, putting him on track to add to his 111 appearances and six goals to date.
‘A very clever player’
Another who signed in that same summer of 2022, Marlon Pack, last month penned a 12-month contract, while the club’s longest-serving player, Connor Ogilvie, last week agreed a two-year deal.
All three were signed by Cowley on free transfers and remain pivotal first-team players ahead of a third successive Championship season under John Mousinho.
Speaking in May 2024, Cowley reflected on the decision to recruit Swanson, whose pre-Pompey playing time consisted of just six EFL Trophy outings for Arsenal Under-21s.
‘Zak was one we were aware of through watching under-23s games,’ Cowley told The News.
‘I saw him live at Bournemouth when they played Arsenal and then at an Arsenal home game at Boreham Wood’s ground.
‘We saw the potential in him, we thought he could grow and develop. He’s a very clever player who can play in different positions, very modern day in that he can go on the overlap and also invert into midfield positions, using the ball well from there.
‘He has this 360-degree vision which allows him to go and play inside the pitch and connect the game.’
Ogilvie preferred at right-back
Swanson instantly bonded with Jay Mingi and Jayden Reid on his first Pompey pre-season tour, fellow youngsters who had also spent time with Premier League clubs before their south-coast arrival.
Yet while both were subsequently released by Mousinho at the end of that 2022-23 season, Swanson flourished, establishing himself as a big Blues favourite.
Admittedly, there were occasions during his maiden Football League campaign when the right-back was overlooked by Cowley, particularly when Rafferty was sidelined by several injuries during a wretched five-month period.
Following four first-team outings, including three cup starts, the head coach opted against naming Swanson as Rafferty’s deputy in League One action - with Kieron Freeman also snubbed.
Instead the left-footed Ogilvie was switched to right-back for five games, a decision which baffled many of the Fratton faithful, yet Pompey remained in the top five.
Then, after handing Swanson a full Football League debut in a 1-0 win at Forest Green Rovers in October 2022, Cowley felt the time was right to trust the youngster with regular first-team football.
Following the New Lawn Stadium clash, Cowley told The News: ‘Zak has just announced himself to the world of football, so good on him.’
Shining against Spurs’ Son Heung-min
By the time Swanson was challenged to mark Son Heung-min in the FA Cup third round trip at Spurs in January 2023, the right-back had started 10 of the Blues’ previous 16 matches in all competitions.
Cowley had by that time been dismissed, with first-team coach Simon Bassey serving as caretaker boss, and Swanson proceeded to put in a brilliant man-of-the-match display in a 1-0 defeat.
He remained first choice in Mousinho’s opening three matches, yet injury at Peterborough brought an early end to Swanson’s first Fratton Park season after 25 games and two goals.
Nonetheless, the tantalising promise demonstrated by the young defender in that 2022-23 campaign was undeniable.
And, four years later, he has signed a third Fratton Park contract as Cowley’s Fratton Park legacy continues long after his departure.
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