Portsmouth have decided to sack their manager Kenny Jackett after spending almost four years in charge of the South Coast club.
The 59 year old had been at Fratton Park since June 2017 and leaves with Pompey seventh in the League One table.
They are 10 points off the top two and two points off the play-off places, but have also won just one of their past seven league games.
Portsmouth FC can confirm that Kenny Jackett has departed as first team manager
#Pompey— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) March 14, 2021
CLUB STATEMENT:
Portsmouth Football Club can confirm the departure of Kenny Jackett as first team manager.
Chief executive Mark Catlin said: “Portsmouth Football Club would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Kenny for the work he has done during his near four-year spell at the club and we all wish him well for the future.
“It has been an emotional past few weeks for everyone associated with Pompey and we now begin the process – which will be as short as possible – of appointing someone who we believe can give us the best chance of finishing inside the top six. These talks begin today.”
Since taking charge at Fratton Park in the summer of 2017, Jackett has led the Blues to finishes of 8th, 4th and 5th in League One.
They currently sit 7th in the standings and he has an overall win percentage of 51.7 per cent in all competitions (47 per cent in league games).
Jackett guided Pompey to EFL Trophy glory in 2018/19, with more than 40,000 Blues fans inside Wembley to watch a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over the Black Cats.
He also helped the club enjoy a post-war record nine consecutive wins in all competitions last season, aligned with notable cup successes against Championship sides Norwich, Birmingham, QPR and Barnsley.
However, successive play-off defeats to Sunderland and Oxford respectively in the past two campaigns have thwarted the club’s ultimate ambition of reaching the Championship.
The club will update supporters once the process of appointing a new first team manager has been agreed.
– STATEMENT ENDS –
Since replacing Paul Cook as Portsmouth manager, the ex-Millwall, Wolves and Swansea boss had guided them to eighth, fourth and fifth in his three seasons in charge – losing to Sunderland and Oxford United in the play-offs in the past two seasons.
A return to the Championship for the first time since relegation in 2012 was always the aim for Jackett, who took both the Swans and Wolves out of the third tier, but now leaves with the club hoping there is still time for someone else to get them there this season.
Fans gave their reaction as Portsmouth sack their manager after cup final defeat to Salford…
— James (@Jamesr02_) March 14, 2021
— Zak (@pfczak) March 14, 2021
— PeterTheTweeter (@Baldry_) March 14, 2021
— Sam Williams (@SamWilliamsPFC) March 14, 2021
@FtblMason: DONT FORGET YOUR JACKET
@AidanAr38949930: There a managerial spot at swindon open. we’ll take him.
@xthfcjake: REST IN PISS HARVEY CAN NOW THRIVEEE
@BR_22__: Could’ve waited till after we played you
@MarkRoser9: Who I wonder is gonna come in and save our season has to be someone strong and won’t take crap.and knows this league ! No ex players please.we need a leader and someone who gonna get us buzzing again
@olliejoell1606: I feel bad for the guy. I wanted him gone just like everyone. But I’m sure he was a nice bloke. I just don’t think his style of football or anytbing worked here. Good luck for the future
@BradSaundersPfc: 4 years of failure over!!!!!!
@RoyLlowarch: You are so right Bradley. Even when we won games we looked like shit the majority of the time mate
@Wellse96: Thank you for everything Kenny, its a shame it ended like this but he’s had long enough to get it right. Not going up in 2019 was the start of the decline. Good luck for the future #Pompey
@PompeyHazza9: YESSSSSSS FUCKING GET IN BEST DAY OF MY LIFE
@beano438: GOOD! Let’s hope the boards dithering and lack of football understanding hasn’t cost us the season! Go and pay the money now and get either Duff or Russel in , allow them to asses the shambles jackets put together and go again next season!
@ACrawford1987: Correct decision – should have happened at the end of last season but at least by doing so now it gives us a chance to salvage this one!
@mfcrob: Incoming – delusional shouts of Howe and Lampard
@AlanRodhouse: Sad but totally the right decision given results. 4 years of having one of the better budgets in the league and we haven’t progressed as we should have done. Was painful at the end. Have to thank KJ for his service and wish him all the best. Hope we get the right guy. PUP
@JPMMiller: Few weeks earlier and Cook would have been on the cards
@AdrianParishUK: Thank fuck for that
@RussellRussjm: Not surprised now – yesterday was soul destroying for him and everyone watching
@EthanOsafc: Happy for use lot should have been sacked at Christmas
@lyzchambers: Thank you #Pompey. No-one wants to see someone lose their job, but this was untenable.
Thanks to Kenny Jackett for his efforts over 4 years, and good luck for the future. Onwards and Play Up Pompey.
@gar78: Nothing against the guy as a person, but this needed to be done. Possibly a bit late but we got there in the end.
@midgeyash: Give it to Harry til end of season
@_robertsafc: Ffs
@LewisDon10: Let’s all have a disco!
@jaaob_: Left it way late no confidence in the board or CEO any more, prove me wrong the whole thing isn’t rotten from top to bottom
@84Knight: This day > the birth of my daughter #jackettgone #pompey
@JoeWafc12: Remember when you made that shit chant about him being better than cook?
@MikeOfPompey: I’d like to place on record that I’m absolutely buzzing!
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