John Mousinho has backed a departing Portsmouth player to quickly find another club.
The Blues released their retained list on Wednesday evening after the conclusion of their League One title-winning campaign.
Sean Raggett, Joe Rafferty, Lee Evans, Josh Martin, Matt Macey, Ryan Schofield, Haji Mnoga, Harry Jewitt-White, Liam Vincent and Josh Dockerill have all departed Fratton Park.
Blues fans knew tough decisions were coming as Mousinho and sporting director Richard Hughes get ready to embark on the club’s Championship recruitment drive.
Elsewhere, Marlon Pack and Connor Ogilvie have been offered new contracts; it remains to be seen whether they will sign. Joe Morrell and Zak Swanson are still in negotiations over extending their Fratton Park stay.
John Mousinho lauds Joe Rafferty after his Portsmouth exit on Wednesday
Danny Cowley signed Rafferty after he left Championship side Preston North End in the summer of 2022. The Liverpudlian has been an ever-present during his two-season stay on the South Coast and a firm fan favourite.
However, due to his age and the Blues looking to kick on in the second tier, an exit was always on the cards.
Speaking to The News, Mousinho has shed light on the 30-year-old’s exit. He said: “Raffs was a really tough one, he has been excellent since I have been in the building. He’s a breath of fresh air in training every day, a brilliant character, and has done a huge amount in the dressing room to galvanise the squad and work with the other senior pros to make sure the squad has been as good as they’ve been.
“It’s a tough one with Joe, a really sad one. He deserves a contract, and we’re sure he will go and get a good contract with another football club somewhere else, which will set him up for the back end of his career.”
Interestingly, the Pompey boss revealed that Rafferty “disagrees” with the club’s decision.
He added: “As a football club, we have to make the football decision at the next level, and we’re obviously going to try to bring in another right-back. Joe obviously disagrees.”
“He’s a breath of fresh air in training every day, a brilliant character, and has done a huge amount in the dressing room to galvanise the squad and work with the other senior pros to make sure the squad has been as good as they’ve been.”
Portsmouth had to be ruthless with contract decisions
Obviously, the likes of Rafferty and Raggett deserved contracts. The duo were instrumental in securing the club’s place in the Championship next season. However, contracts aren’t handed out based on how players have performed in the past; they’re handed out based on what a player will provide going forward.
There must be a realisation that the second tier is an entirely different beast compared to League One. Finances filtering down from the Premier League mean sides at the top of the Championship have a distinct advantage.
With Pompey likely to be smart with available finances, Mousinho and Hughes must give themselves wriggle room; allowing the likes of Raggett and Rafferty to depart will undoubtedly allow for this.