'With a bit of cash…' – Pundit makes bold call over Portsmouth's Championship chances
18/04/2024 14:58
Portsmouth can challenge for the play-offs in the first season back in the Championship with some strong summer signings, former Pompey man Lee Sharpe believes.
Portsmouth have just wrapped up a long-awaited rise from the third-tier of English football.
After sliding down the EFL ladder and being on the brink of liquidation amid continued financial problems. Pompey have rebuild in recent years to become regular League One promotion candidates.
Failed play-off bids and near misses are a thing of the past now though, with John Mousinho leading his side to the league title as they booked a spot in the 2024/25 Championship in fashion on Tuesday night.
And, with the rest of the season remaining and a important summer window ahead, hopes are high for their second-tier return.
Backed for a play-off push
Speaking with BetVictor, ex-Portsmouth winger and pundit Lee Sharpe has said that with an injection of cash and some solid player recruitment, his former side are capable of pushing for a play-off spot in their maiden campaign back in the Championship.
Here’s what he had to say:
“With a bit of cash injected into the club and a couple of decent players coming in this summer then maybe they’ll find themselves contesting a play-off place. I think they’ll really surprise a few people next year.
“When teams come up and get promotion automatically, it does tend to give them a little bit of momentum and impetus. If they can start off next season really well then who knows how high up the table they could find themselves after 46 games.”
On the way up
Portsmouth will be looking to end the season on a high by reaching the 100-point marker with wins over Wigan Athletic and Lincoln City in their final two games of the season.
Time will be taken to rest up and recover after a gruelling campaign, but attention will quickly turn to gearing up for the Championship. Recruitment will be key, as manager Mousinho and director Richard Hughes will know Pompey can’t afford to rest on their laurels.
We’ve seen plenty of sides find big success when rising from League One before, with Ipswich Town the most recent example.
The Tractor Boys are currently top of the Championship table with three games left as they battle it out with Leicester City and Leeds United for a place in the Premier League. Emulating their remarkable season would be some feat, with excitement already building ahead of Portsmouth’s second-tier return.
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