Portsmouth are pulling out all the stops to ensure manager John Mousinho remains at Fratton Park next season, with sporting director Richard Hughes expressing strong confidence the 40-year-old will stay despite growing interest from rival clubs. The Championship side, who secured survival for a second consecutive campaign with a late-season surge, are banking on a combination of increased financial backing and a clear ambition to keep their highly rated head coach.
Mousinho's work since taking the reins has not gone unnoticed. After guiding Pompey to safety in 2025-26 — winning four of their final six matches to finish 18th — he has been linked with several managerial vacancies, most notably Bristol City. However, the Robins have since appointed former Lincoln City boss Michael Skubala, closing one potential exit door. Hughes was quick to dismiss the online speculation, confirming no club has made an official approach for the manager.
"We're really confident we can keep Mousinho," Hughes told BBC Radio Solent. "It's a natural by-product of having an incredibly talented head coach who's a wonderful person. There's always going to be interest in him." The director stressed the club's consistency in its approach: "Our aim as a football club is to keep that ambition in line with all the talented staff and good players we have here."
Central to that ambition is a budget increase, signed off by the board, which underlines the club's determination to build on last season. Hughes noted that the financial boost would help them compete more effectively in the transfer market, even if they cannot go head-to-head with clubs benefiting from parachute payments. "We can't compete for players with those teams coming down with parachute payments, and someone like a Middlesbrough losing the play-off final," he admitted. "But we are now confident we can go toe-to-toe with the teams towards the bottom half of the Championship and sell what we're trying to do."
This pragmatic outlook is shaped by the reality of the 2026-27 Championship, which will be among the most competitive in years. Portsmouth will share the division with relegated Premier League trio West Ham United, Burnley, and Wolverhampton Wanderers — all armed with significant financial resources from parachute payments. Meanwhile, promoted League One clubs Cardiff City, Bolton Wanderers, and Lincoln City will arrive with momentum, having battled their way up. Hughes acknowledged the challenge: "We know with the teams coming into the Championship, it's going to be really tough again."
For Portsmouth, the path to stability lies in smart recruitment and incremental improvement. Hughes pointed to a positive trajectory, even if their final points tally of 2025-26 — one point more than the previous season — resulted in a lower league position (18th compared to 16th). "We think we've got to a really good spot in terms of how we want to grow, and how we can see a pathway to this club being successful," he said. "It's really positive and something we're all really excited about, bringing in players again this summer to build the group and improve on last year's points total."
Keeping Mousinho is seen as a cornerstone of that plan. Since signing a new two-year contract in September 2024, he has cultivated a resilient squad capable of grinding out results under pressure. His ability to extract maximum effort from limited resources has made him a sought-after commodity. Yet for all the external noise, the manager himself appears invested in the project. Hughes’s confidence suggests the club believe their offer — both financial and philosophical — matches Mousinho’s ambitions.
The summer window will be critical. Portsmouth must navigate a market where cash-rich rivals can outmuscle them for marquee signings, but Hughes sees value in targeting players who fit the distinct personality of the club. "If we get the recruitment right, we'll be in a stronger position than we were last year," he assured. The emphasis on growth rather than overnight success mirrors the steady hand Mousinho has brought to the dugout.
With the Championship set to be a war of attrition, continuity could be Portsmouth’s greatest asset. While newly monied sides often need time to gel, Pompey enter their third straight second-tier season with a clear identity. Mousinho’s tactical acumen, combined with a squad that understands the league’s rigours, gives them a platform to defy the odds. The club’s hierarchy is banking on that combination to once again beat the drop and perhaps push higher.
As the off-season unfolds, the message from Fratton Park is unambiguous: Portsmouth are not a selling club when it comes to their manager. By investing in the team and resisting any temptation to cash in, they aim to show Mousinho that the club’s trajectory matches his personal growth. In a volatile industry, that loyalty could be the difference between stability and another relegation scrap.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.