Michael Eisner’s ownership of Portsmouth has been an interesting ride thus far, with the Blues now on the verge of returning to the Championship.
The former Disney chief hailed his Tornante consortium as an almost saviour-like opportunity that could finally take the Blues back to the second tier and beyond.
Crucially, during his initial pitch at the Guild Hall all those years ago, the American insisted that he was required to take the club forward. Of course, he was trying to win over the shareholders, who had rescued the club and brought it out of the EFL’s bottom tier.
Evidently, Eisner and his family have been learning on the job.
Since taking the reins, Pompey have had three managers: Kenny Jackett, Danny Cowley and now John Mousinho.
There has been a significant shift from Jackett’s old-school methods to Mousinho, who now operates under the watchful eye of sporting director Richard Hughes.
Some would argue the Eisners have been fortunate to finally stumble across the formula of a sporting director and a promising young manager. However, CEO Andrew Cullen has insisted the ownership has always been looking for someone to take the load off of the manager’s shoulders.
What has Andrew Cullen said about Michael Eisner’s Portsmouth wishes?
Talking to the Portsmouth News, Cullen claimed Eisner had been thinking about hiring a sporting director from the minute he purchased the club.
‘The idea of a sporting director or director of football had already been discussed before my arrival; Tornante always wanted to have one,” he said.
Cullen said he was consulted upon his arrival over the best route to take: “When I was appointed, it was very much left to me in terms of “What do you think?”,’ he explained.
“Sporting directors mean different things around different clubs, you need to get the role and responsibilities right specifically for your own football club. We took a bit of time, but it became apparent within six months of that first season what exactly was needed.”
Portsmouth Richard Hughes decision pays off
Richard Hughes’ decision-making has been faultless since he stepped through the door in PO4. The former Forest Green chief has supplied Pompey with a number of assets that will undoubtedly attract attention in the upcoming transfer window.
Paddy Lane is probably the club’s prized asset, and a healthy transfer fee would certainly tempt the board into a sale.
Seeing Abu Kamara and Alex Robertson’s next moves will be intriguing. Both players have top-flight talent and could easily step up to a top Championship club at the bare minimum.
Hughes’ January recruitment also deserves credit, with Callum Lang, Myles Peart-Harris and Owen Moxon making an impact on Mousinho’s side.