It is a frustrating time for football fans up and down the country, with the coronavirus pandemic seeing the season postponed.
The Blues were sitting fourth in the League One table – just two points off the automatic promotion spots – when the campaign ground to a halt a fortnight ago.
But Joe Gallen knows that sport has to take a back seat to ensure people stay healthy and do not place an unnecessary burden on the NHS.
And he has urged everyone to follow government advice to ensure normal service can resume as soon as possible.
In an interview with The Guardian, Pompey’s assistant manager said: “When we were told we were going to shut down, it was a huge disappointment.
“But after a bit of sober reflection, you do start to think that football does seem a bit irrelevant.
"If we all do right by the government and follow their instructions, we’ll be able to get our football season back quicker."
“It’s such a difference to wanting to be successful and win to, oh, hang on a minute, there’s other things going on that are miles more important.
“The players are keeping themselves fit at the moment and they do look after themselves, even during the off-season.
"Invariably, most come back fit. They just do – at every level. It’s their job to stay fit.
“The thing I would also say is if we all do right by the government and follow their instructions, we’ll be able to get our football season back quicker than if we don’t.
“If everyone just carries on going about their business, it’s going to be longer.”
Click here to read the interview in full on The Guardian website.