Rich Hughes, who formerly played for Forest Green Rovers, believes Pompey can match his ambitions as he embarks on the next part of his Fratton Park journey.
In his first full season as Blues manager, the sporting director won League One and returned to the Championship after 12 years away. The objective is to sustain that positive recovery, first by directing a summer recruitment drive to prepare Pompey for a challenging 2024-2025 season.
Hughes departed Forest Green Rovers for Pompey in October 2022, recognizing he had gone as far as he could with a club that would later endure multiple relegations. But he is certain that he is nowhere near the ceiling at Fratton Park, where there is plenty to aim for.
He told The News: ‘I’m really happy here and quite proud of the job that has been done.’At the very least, we’ve gotten this football club back to where it should be; now we can move on.
‘The great part for me personally is knowing that the ownership structure, as well as Andy Cullen and Tony Brown, trust me to do my job without too much interference.
‘I want to keep moving this football club forward, improving our practices as much as possible, and aiming to be incredibly successful here.
‘At some football clubs, you may reach a certain level of success and know you’ve arrived. Whereas this team has reached the summit, been in the Premier League, played European games, and won FA Cups, every ounce of achievement is critical. ‘Me, John (Mousinho), and everyone at this football club understand that that is not the end of the job; rather, it is the beginning. It’s an exciting experience to be a part of.
Jordan Williams is the Blues’ first acquisition of the summer, having joined after the transfer window opened last Friday.
Meanwhile, Connor Ogilvie signed a new two-year deal on Saturday to continue on the south coast, after originally arriving in August 2021.It would be foolish not to admit that it (the task Hughes is directing) will be observed by others, but the good news is that we can continue to make progress and, with our support structure, be successful.
‘In football, you are never done; there is always a new challenge to take on. At the moment, that’s recruitment. We enjoy what we do and being a part of it all.
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