Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman believes John Mousinho should remain at Portsmouth despite Championship vacancies, stating the manager is ‘in the perfect place’ for his career development at Fratton Park.
Don Goodman has firmly dismissed suggestions that John Mousinho should consider leaving Portsmouth for other Championship opportunities, insisting the Blues manager is perfectly positioned at Fratton Park.
The Sky Sports analyst believes none of the current second-tier vacancies would represent an upgrade for the 36-year-old, who has established himself as one of the division’s most promising coaches.
Mousinho has transformed Portsmouth during his tenure, securing the League One championship in his maiden full season before successfully navigating the Blues’ return to the Championship last campaign.
Despite a disastrous opening to the 2023-24 season that yielded just one victory from their first 14 matches, the former defender guided Portsmouth to a comfortable 16th-place finish, five points clear of relegation.
His impressive work has attracted attention from rival clubs, with Mousinho previously linked to positions at West Bromwich Albion and Bristol City, though he has consistently expressed his commitment to the south coast club.
Goodman dismisses Championship alternatives
With current openings at Bristol City, Hull City, and Queens Park Rangers, Goodman remains convinced Portsmouth offers the ideal environment for Mousinho’s continued development.
Speaking to Football League World, the former striker explained: “I believe clubs should view it positively when their players or managers attract interest from other teams, particularly those higher up the hierarchy. However, I feel John is perfectly situated for this stage of his career.
“Examining the available positions – Ryan Mason has joined West Bromwich Albion, so that opportunity has passed. There’s potentially Bristol City available, but would you abandon Portsmouth for them?
“Queens Park Rangers might be a possibility, but again, I believe Mousinho is already optimally placed and would prefer to continue his development as a head coach at Portsmouth. It’s a substantial club and I expect they will support him.”
Remarkable longevity in volatile division
Following Michael Carrick’s dismissal at Middlesbrough this week, Mousinho has ascended to become the Championship’s third longest-serving manager heading into the new season.
Only Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna have greater tenure, with Mousinho’s January 2023 appointment now ranking highly among the division’s managers.
The 2023-24 Championship campaign witnessed 23 managerial changes, with only Portsmouth, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, and Burnley maintaining faith in their coaches throughout the season.
Despite Portsmouth’s alarming start to their Championship return, the club hierarchy demonstrated remarkable patience with the former Oxford United defender, a decision that ultimately proved vindicated.
Reflecting on the club’s loyalty following Portsmouth’s survival confirmation against Watford in April, Mousinho acknowledged the unusual backing he received.
He told The News: “Credit to Portsmouth, there were certainly moments when we considered that, at any other football club, that would have been the end.
“What’s fascinating is that the supporters never turned against us, which reflected their understanding of our objectives and the circumstances we faced. We probably managed to deliver crucial performances that kept everyone supportive.
“But there has been tremendous loyalty from the football club towards me, they have honoured everything we discussed in that initial press conference in January 2023. Few clubs demonstrate such commitment.
“Consider how many clubs appoint head coaches. You discuss long-term projects, but when things deteriorate after six months, there’s a change. When problems arise after three months, there’s a change.”
