Portsmouth offer new deals to promising young trio
Pompey have offered third-year scholarships to a trio of promising prospects.
Harry Kavanagh, Eoin Teggart and Alfie Stanley, all 18, are set to sign new one-year deals with the club.
Kavanagh, a right-back who’s from Portsmouth, was the Blues Academy’s skipper this season.
He also made 11 appearances on loan at Bognor before the Isthmian League premier division campaign was curtailed amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Teggart’s been with Pompey since the summer of 2018, after the winger arrived from Irish League side Cliftonville for an undisclosed fee.
The Northern Ireland youngster made an impressive Pompey debut in the 3-1 Leasing.com Trophy victory over Norwich under-21s in September. He’s also an under-19 international for his home country.
Stanley has just emerged from a prolific campaign for the academy.
The Portsmouth-born striker plundered 26 goals in as many games.
Academy boss Mark Kelly said: ‘They all deserve this opportunity but have to get their heads down and be ready to go again.
‘When football does resume for us, they’ll have to work extremely hard to get in and around Kenny Jackett’s squad. It’s a real challenge and they have to be ready to go.
‘Alfie has scored a lot of goals this season, while Harry settled down in his loan spell at Bognor and produced good performance levels.
‘Eoin made his debut for the first team in the Leasing.com Trophy and has got plenty of pace and crossing ability – now he just needs to hone in on a few things.’
The keeper has trialled with Pompey from Lewes since before Christmas.
In addition, Tom Bruce and Leon Pitman will remain with the club as they continue their rehabilitation from long-term injuries.
However, it means Stan Bridgman, Liam Kelly and Ethan Robb’s Fratton Park journeys have come to an end.
All four were regulars for the academy and the reserves this season.
Kelly added: ‘We’ve got a long-term relationship with all the boys and that will continue for those who are not staying.
‘It will be interesting to see what they choose to do next and we’ll be there to support them in their next steps.’