It’s inevitably a painful process for the youngsters concerned, while, as ever in football, opinions can differ on whether they should be retained to remain part of the Blues’ future.
We’ve looked into those players who emerged from Pompey’s youth set-up only to be released, having barely featured for the first-team – yet subsequently bounced back to prove the club wrong.
This doesn’t take into account players released before graduation at the age 17-18 or those sold by the club.
9. Kevin Bartlett
Southsea's Kevin Bartlett made three appearances after coming through the Blues' youth system, all coming off the bench in the old Third Division under Frank Burrows. Upon his release by Bobby Campbell in 1982, he dropped into non-league with Fareham, where the pacy striker enjoyed a prolific time. In September 1986 he returned the Football League, reuniting with Burrows at Cardiff City. Bartlett would later play for West Brom, Notts County, Cambridge United and Port Vale, winning two career promotions, while also represented Neil Warnock's Magpies in the top flight. Picture: Russell Cheyne/Allsport Photo: Russell Cheyne
10. Jason Pearce
Fleet-born Jason Pearce rose through Pompey's youth set-up to become a first-year professional, but left in August 2007 without making a Blues appearance. Allowed to join Bournemouth, Harry Redknapp didn't even want a fee, with the Cherries instead agreeing to a 50 per cent sell-on clause. He returned to Fratton Park four years later in June 2011 for £300,000 having amassed 183 Bournemouth appearances and won promotion to League One. Pearce was subsequently The News/Sports Mail Pompey Player of the Season for 2011-12, before sold to Leeds at the end of the campaign with the club in administration and in dire financial trouble. He later played for Wigan and Charlton, before retiring last summer. Picture: Tony Marshall/Getty Images Photo: Tony Marshall
11. Mick Mills
Mick Mills was not strictly released upon graduating at Pompey, with George Smith scrapping the entire youth set-up in the mid-1960s when Mills was part of it. The full-back from Godalming soon found an alternative club in Ipswich, making his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 1966. With Ipswich, he went on to win the FA Cup, Uefa Cup and twice finish as runners-up in the old First Division, making 741 appearances - a club record. Mills later represented Southampton and Stoke, while featured 42 times for England, often as skipper. Picture: Allsport UK /Allsport Photo: Getty Images