Why Portsmouth aren't in a position to rubbish John Mousinho Bristol City speculation
John Mousinho has been linked with the vacant Bristol City manager’s job sever since guiding Pompey to Championship safety
Chief executive Andy Cullen this week revealed Pompey have received no approaches for head coach John Mousinho.
Speculation about the Blues boss’s Fratton Park future as been rife after it emerged that Championship rivals Bristol City had made him a leading candidate for their managerial vacancy at Ashton Gate.
But could the CEO have done more to rubbish the rumours and insist Mousinho was going nowhere? After all, the Blues chief admitted it was business as usual at Fratton Park, with key figures presently undertaking work expected of them ahead of another crucial pre-season and a summer of recruitment.
Apparently not, according to The News’ Jordan Cross.
The Pompey writer said Cullen would have been ‘over-promising’ if he had gone so far in saying Mousinho was staying put in an attempt to put speculation to bed.
Why don’t Pompey end the Mousinho speculation?
On the latest episode of Pompey Talk, Cross was asked why the Blues don’t rubbish the rumours and say their head coach - who has two years remaining on his existing Fratton Park deal - is going nowhere.
In response, he replied: ‘They could have said it, but this is why I respect Andy Cullen.
‘Could he have then delivered on that? Could he have promised that, and then seen it through? I don't think so.
‘If John's in a place where he wants to move on, and that opportunity presents itself.... invariably, in football, in those positions, if the approach comes in, it happens.
‘So Andy Cullen could have come out and said it, and got some credit for it, but then how would he have looked if he was then unable to deliver that, and then John leaves for Bristol City?
‘So I respect Andy for telling it exactly how it is, saying what he can say, and not over-promising.
‘To be honest, that (insisting the manager is going nowhere) would be the behaviour of someone who probably wants to be catching a soundbite and a headline and looking the part, but then not delivering.
‘I'd probably rather have a realistic assessment from your executive and your key decision-makers, so I understand Andy Cullen coming out and saying it how it is, and not over-promising.’
Mousinho leaving Pompey is ‘60-40’
Pompey fans are currently in limbo as they await the outcome of Bristol City’s managerial search - a hunt that has also seen them linked with Steven Gerrard, Lincoln boss Michael Skubala and Crystal Palace assistant manager Paddy McCarthy.
When asked how the current situation ends, Cross added: ‘If I were to put a percentage on it... it probably feels like 60-40, 60% chance that John goes against 40 staying.
‘But, you know, it could so quickly swing the other way.’
For your next Pompey read: Section of Fratton faithful make season-ticket point amid John Mousinho future speculation