October 2026 Update
We’re probably glad this update is being written now rather than immediately after the derby defeat against Southampton! As ever in football, things can change very quickly.
It was also pleasing to read such positive comments from Norwich supporters about the way our fans showed the appropriate respect during the minute’s silence for their honorary life president and former majority shareholder, Michael Wynn Jones. It’s always good to see the football family come together to pay its respects when required.
The “Bubble”
So, how did the bubble operate this time around? Were there improvements compared with last time?
We’d welcome your views on how the day went. To be clear, we’re not asking for opinions on whether a bubble is needed, as that has already been well documented and discussed. Instead, we’re interested in your feedback on how the arrangements worked in practice and whether there are lessons to be learned for the future.
We’ll be pleased to take your comments to the club when discussions begin in preparation for next year’s bubble, assuming both clubs are in the same division!
Please email your comments to [email protected].
Q&A – Wednesday 4 November
A reminder that our annual exclusive Q&A will take place on Wednesday 4 November in the Victory Lounge.
This is your opportunity to put your questions directly to Andy Cullen, Richard Hughes and John Mousinho and ask them what’s really on your mind! Email invitations have been sent to all members, and we already have more than 100 confirmed attendees. If you haven’t responded yet, don’t miss out!
Cardiff Incident
We all remember the incident involving the young supporter and a Cardiff player. Everyone seemed to have an opinion, but what did the PST do, and why did we take the approach we did?
It’s important that, when incidents of this nature occur, we explain the PST’s role and how we respond. Now that emotions have, to some degree, settled, we believe it’s appropriate to explain the actions we took following this incident and the reasons behind our approach.
We’ve set out the details of our response in the article below.
Pompey v Cardiff – 5 September 2026 – Pompey Supporters’ Trust
Supporter Survey 2026 – The Academy
One of the biggest topics raised in the open-question section of our 2026 supporter survey was the Academy.
Cast your mind back to the Guildhall, and many supporters will remember the vision presented for developing our own “Britneys and Justins” through the Academy and into the first team. This was presented as an important part of the club’s long-term strategy to become more sustainable.
Ten years on, we’re still waiting for an Academy graduate to establish themselves as a regular first-team player.
There are growing hopes that Toby Steward could become that player, but what about the wider group coming through behind him?
Are we genuinely optimistic about the current crop of young players? Do we have the right recruitment strategy, facilities, coaching and player-development structure in place to attract and develop young talent, both locally and from further afield?
Has there been sufficient progress? What has changed over the last decade? And what are the club’s long-term plans for the Academy?
These were just some of the questions raised by members in our survey. We’re therefore delighted that Andy Cullen, Richard Hughes and James Barlow, the recently appointed Head of Academy, have agreed to take part in an exclusive written interview covering all aspects of the Academy.
We submitted questions addressing the issues raised above last week and look forward to receiving the answers. We’ll publish the interview in a future update and put up on our website.
State of the Game – how did we come to this and the Independent Football Regulator
Many of you will have seen the recent State of the Game report issued by the Independent Football Regulator (IFR).
Even a brief look at the headline findings makes for sobering reading about the financial health of our national game.
The report highlighted some eye-watering figures:
- 94% of clubs across the top five English divisions were making losses.
- English football generated more than £9 billion in revenue but recorded losses of approximately £1.7 billion.
- Nearly two-thirds of clubs in the English Football League (EFL) and National League were technically insolvent.
- More than a quarter of clubs could not survive for 30 days if their owners withdrew financial support.
Our supporters are more aware than most of the financial dangers that can threaten a football club. We know only too well how quickly things can change and how important sound financial management is to a club’s future.
The key question for us is: what does all this mean for Portsmouth Football Club? It’s certainly a question likely to come up at our forthcoming Q&A.
We’re fortunate that the PST Board includes two individuals, Ashley Brown and Simon Colebrook, both former Chairs of the PST, who remain heavily involved in supporter engagement across football.
Their work beyond the PST helps ensure that supporters’ voices are heard at the highest levels of the game. It also brings valuable experience, knowledge and connections back to our own board, helping us better understand the challenges facing football and the opportunities available to supporters.
For a more detailed look at Ashley’s work on supporter engagement and the timeline of developments that have brought us to where we are today with the IFR, click on the link below.
State of the Game - Pompey Supporters Trust
Simon’s activities relating to fan engagement outside the PST will be covered in a future update.
The Independent Football Regulator (IFR)
Members might also be interested in a short documentary series titled What Happens When Saturday Doesn’t Come?
The series highlights the importance of football clubs to their local communities and reinforces the point that a football club is about much more than 90 minutes on a Saturday.
Clubs are an integral part of the communities they serve. They support local jobs, bring people together and provide a sense of identity and belonging.
The series is well worth watching. You can find it via the link below.
Independent Football Regulator – What Happens When Saturday Doesn’t Come?
Website, X and Facebook
Don’t forget that regular updates, news and statements from the PST are shared across our website and social media channels.
Please follow us and stay up to date:
- X: @PompeyTrust
- BlueSky: @pompeytrust.bsky.social
- Facebook: @PompeySupportersTrust
- Website: www.pompeytrust.com
And Finally …
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the Pompey Supporters’ Trust.
We’ll continue to represent supporters’ interests, make sure your voices are heard and keep you updated on the issues that matter to you.
Up the Blues! #PUP
The PST Board