Since being appointed permanent head coach on Monday, despite failing to guide Pompey into the League One play-offs, plans for the 2021-22 season are already full steam ahead.
The first major acts Cowley must carry out is decide on the futures of the 11 out of contract players.
Plenty has been made about the number whose deals have culminated now the campaign is over.
Included in the group are captain Tom Naylor, Jack Whatmough, Ryan Williams and Craig MacGillivray – who’ve all been regulars when fit.
With Cowley plotting a renewed League One promotion push, he has to decide who out of the 11 can make an impact next term and who is surplus to requirements.
With that said, we’ve taken a look at what the head coach has previously said about each of them since taking the hot seat from Kenny Jackett in March...
9. Charlie Daniels
The former Bournemouth man had a couple of games to forget at MK Dons and Swindon. However, despite being aged 34, Cowley was impressed by how Daniels responded on the training ground. He said: ‘People like him want to improve, they want to get better. They love football, they are competitors and want to try to do more. Even at his age he wants that – and you have to respect that. That’s the culture we must have, there’s no short-cuts to where we are going.’ Photo: Joe Pepler
10. Bryn Morris
It had appeared the midfielder has played his last game for Pompey when he left for Northampton on loan in January. Cowley hasn’t ruled out Morris being handed fresh terms – although he does seem unlikely. Cowley said last month: ‘He has a nice range of passing and is a competitive number-six who can also play in the number-eight role. For us, it is always to be open-minded, always to be open-minded. We will have some decisions to make and the football club will have some decisions to make moving forward.’ Photo: Joe Pepler
11. Duncan Turnbull
Cowley has already confirmed the American stopper will depart at the end of his deal, having joined Las Vegas Lights on loan in April. He said: ‘I think that decision (on Turnbull) was made before we arrived. I spent one day with Duncan – and he said hello and then goodbye. The idea is for him to go on loan and finish out his contract there.’ Photo: Nigel Keene