John Mousinho has confirmed he holds the final say on every Portsmouth player signing. The head coach detailed his evolving role within the club's modern recruitment structure, which has seen 67 players arrive at Fratton Park since his appointment in January 2023.
Mousinho, 40, explained that while sporting director Rich Hughes and head of recruitment Brad Wall lead the search, he is the ultimate decision-maker. "My role has probably evolved a bit," Mousinho said. "When I first came into the football club, we were in the midst of the January 2023 window."
He stressed that the fundamental principle was established from day one. "It was always really clear when I first took the job about what that would look like - i.e."
The modern recruitment process
Portsmouth's system is designed to use specialist expertise. The recruitment team identifies a long list of players fitting a specific profile, which is then whittled down to a shortlist of three or four names for each position. Mousinho then conducts his own detailed analysis before making the final choice.
This collaborative approach has been consistent. The club has never signed a player against Mousinho's wishes, nor has he been denied a player he strongly wanted, though some targets have proven unattainable for other reasons. Early signings like Paddy Lane and Di’Shon Bernard were approved under this model.
Mousinho is clear about the division of labour. He argues that being a head coach and a full-time recruiter require completely different skills. Spending all his time scouting leagues would detract from his primary duties of coaching, media work, and daily player management.
"The ideal thing for me - just from a time perspective - is I have 3-4 potential players in one position that I can probably dig into and decide within that list who I think is best," he explained. "I think that’s the only way it can work."
Building for the Championship
The structure has supported Portsmouth's transformation from a League One side to an established Championship club. They currently sit 18th in the table with seven points from six games, having scored seven and conceded eight. Their recent form shows two wins, one draw, and two losses from the last five outings.
A goalless draw at Charlton on 12 September was their latest result. The focus now shifts to preparing for the next Championship fixture, a home match against 16th-placed Blackburn on 19 September.
While the transfer process runs smoothly, Mousinho's immediate concern is the squad available for that game. Portsmouth have several players currently sidelined, including Connor Ogilvie, Franco Umeh, and Josh Murphy. The latest injury news and return timelines are tracked on the official injuries list.
The head coach's reinforced authority in transfers provides stability as the club handles its second-tier campaign. With the next match at Fratton Park just days away, his dual focus on recruitment and match preparation continues.
The original report is at portsmouth.co.uk
