A Happy New Year to you all and welcome to Fratton Park for this afternoon’s Sky Bet League One fixture against Stevenage. Our visitors have had an impressive season following promotion last May and have an FA Cup third round tie at Maidstone to look forward to this weekend. We are pleased to have everyone associated with the club with us today and wish them a safe trip home.
These notes were written ahead of Friday’s match at Exeter, but I do want to thank those who travelled there, as well as everyone who interrupted a family Christmas to support the team at Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day. It was bitterly disappointing to lose – both the game and our unbeaten away record – to a goal scored in in added-time, particularly as we were pushing hard for a winner after Paddy Lane’s equaliser.
However, full-time at the Memorial Stadium completed the first half of our campaign with a return of 49 points and a place at the top of the table. The good start has been encouraging, but everyone is acutely aware that nothing yet has been achieved – the success or otherwise of this season can, and will, only be properly judged in May.
The January transfer window is now open, closing at 11pm on Thursday, February 1. Since September, we have continued to identify targets that best fit our long-term strategy of young, emerging, first team ready talent. We must also be agile to respond to any unforeseen injuries in key positions which might call for immediate short-term reinforcements. We have great togetherness throughout the squad following a successful summer window and as well as ensuring there is competition for places, we need to be diligent to ensure that any new signing – permanent or loan – will complement the culture and spirit that the players themselves have so preciously nurtured and developed.
On Christmas Eve, I was able to take the opportunity to answer a range of questions from supporters, which was published on the club’s media channels. Among the topics covered was whether the club would, in the future, be looking to launch its own online television channel. This was quite a timely question, given that the current EFL Digital business model comes to an end in June.
For several years now, the EFL have provided clubs with websites and the iFollow streaming platform, all at little or no cost. Many Championship sides, as well as some in League One, have split from the EFL and set up their own websites, apps and digital channels. These breakaway clubs have continued to receive a subsidy from the EFL, but with the number now reaching 32, the current fully funded collective proposition and the breakaway subsidy is no longer viable.
The matter is further compounded by the fact that from the 2024/25 season, the EFL will no longer stream games domestically on the iFollow platform. The new broadcasting deal will see those matches traditionally shown on iFollow – evening fixtures and those taking place on bank holidays and international weekends – switch to a brand-new Sky Sports app.
This has caused some concern for our supporters who live abroad. These worries were shared with me after the broadcast of the Christmas Q&A, so I am pleased to provide reassurance that the club can continue to stream fixtures as normal for those who live outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland. They will be able to continue to subscribe directly through the club.
We, along with other clubs in the EFL Digital collective, have been given the option to stay with the EFL – at a cost – or instead set up our own websites, apps and subscription services. We have met with several potential partners over the past few weeks and will shortly look to make a recommendation to the board on which path we should follow. I hope we should be able to communicate everything to supporters in the early spring and well ahead of the new season.
Today we continue our community engagement agenda by showcasing the ‘Never Mind the Stigma’ campaign, which is part of Tonic Music – a local charity. They are known for their work delivering mental health and recovery initiatives using music and helping to raise awareness of suicide. The programme offers peer-to-peer and qualified support, providing free and easy access to vital information and training, encouraging open conversations and breaking down barriers. Portsmouth Football Club fully support the universal right to mental health, recognising that the need to support everyone’s wellbeing is greater than ever. With Never Mind the Stigma launching this month, we are pleased to raise awareness of a campaign which we hope will have a positive impact locally.
We once more travel to the west country to visit Cheltenham at the weekend before returning to Fratton Park to face Leyton Orient here on Saturday, January 13. Meanwhile, Pompey Women return to action with an away fixture at Billericay on Sunday. They then have a huge top-of-the-table clash with Hashtag United at Westleigh Park on Sunday, January 14. Everyone associated with the club would be delighted to receive your support for what is a massive match in the women’s own bid for promotion. Tickets are now on sale via the eticketing site.
Finally, we would all like to wish Kusini Yengi well following his call up by Australia for the AFC Asian Cup and also to Haji Mnoga, who has been selected by Tanzania for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Thank you so much for your support this afternoon – a Happy New Year and enjoy the game. PUP!
Andrew Cullen
Chief Executive