Blues legend completes coaching line-up
Alan McLoughlin has been appointed Pompey’s new first team coach.
The 46-year-old – who played for the club throughout the 1990s – has spent the last two years working in the club’s academy.
He said: “I have to thank Guy for giving me this opportunity. It’s been a pretty tough year for me and my family, but this is a proud day for me.
“It was difficult to leave the academy after a wonderful two years with some fantastic staff who have helped me along the way.
“I owe a lot of thanks to Andy Awford who brought me back into the club and has shown me a lot of support.
“It took a lot of thought, but you only live once and I couldn’t turn down the chance to work with the first team.
“I had a little chat with the players and they’ll soon get to know me and what I’m about. I’ll just do my best to support Guy and Steve as best as I can.
”I’ve got a lot of experience, I’m fully qualified and have played at every level from Conference to international football.
“A lot of people at the club have shown me support – from the coaching staff to those behind the scenes in the offices. It’s helped me through what has been a difficult year
“I love football and love this football club. I spent just shy of 10 years here as a player and played 360 games here – it means a lot to me.”
Blues boss Guy Whittingham added: “Alan’s a good coach, but was also a great player here and is someone who knows this club inside out.
“It’s something we’ve had in mind for a long time now and we’re delighted that it’s all been finalised.
“We always knew what kind of person we wanted here and Alan was at the top of the list from the beginning.”
McLoughlin represented Republic of Ireland at the 1994 World Cup and made more than 350 appearances for the Blues before moving to Wigan in December 1999.
He worked as a summariser on Pompey matches for local radio before joining Pompey’s academy in 2011.