'I play every game like it's my last' - Poolepublished at 15:06 BST
15:06 BST
Media caption,
Poole wants to stay at Pompey 'a little longer'
Portsmouth defender Regan Poole is not thinking about going into the new Championship season in the final year of his contract.
The 28-year-old has made 82 league appearances for Pompey, scoring four goals after joining in July 2023.
"I'm in the last year of my contract, but I play every game like it's my last anyway, and I don't think I'll be changing," Poole told BBC Radio Solent.
"I was delighted to sign my new contract when I did the season before last, and I'll be hoping to do that again, and I need to show I'm capable of performing at this level.
"I hope I've shown that, but every season is different, and hopefully I can be at this football club for a little bit longer."
Portsmouth finished 18th in the Championship last season, eight points clear of relegation, with Poole making 41 league appearances, and he is ready to fight for his place once again.
"We have a fair few [defenders] in the building, good quality central defenders, maybe five or six, which is crazy for two positions, but it's healthy," he said.
"I need to make sure I'm in the team at the start of the season; who with is not my problem."
Portsmouth start the new Championship season at home to QPR on Saturday, 15 August (15:00 BST).
Smiling eyes in Ireland as Pompey pre-season beginspublished at 16:19 BST 9 July
16:19 BST 9 July
Andrew Moon BBC Radio Solent in the Republic of Ireland
Image source, BBC Radio Solent
Image caption,
Portsmouth will begin their Championship season with a home game against QPR
One of the reasons Portsmouth opted for Ireland for a pre-season camp this year was the weather.
They've been to southern Europe for the past three seasons and at times it has been brutally hot.
The conditions here have been perfect, clear skies, sunshine but temperatures in the low-to-mid twenties.
Cool enough for what has been a fairly relentless training schedule.
During the season there are so many matches that opportunities for intense training are limited. Not so here.
The players have been doing double sessions, some of which have been long and incredibly physical.
It's interesting to watch John Mousinho on the training ground, he has a clear vision for what he wants done in each drill and demands high standards.
As well as building up fitness, these weeks are important for working on patterns of play and looking at set-pieces.
There is still a lot of work to do in the transfer market and there are just two new faces in the group.
Those are free-agent signing Odin Bailey, who is keeping a close eye on his good friend Jude Bellingham's heroics at the World Cup, and young forward Eoin Kenny, who flew from Ireland to Portsmouth for his medical before quickly jumping back on another plane to head back to his home country with his new squad.
Kenny looks in impressive shape - however, despite leading the group the whole way in one of the runs, he was outsprinted to the finish line by Marlon Pack as a member of the coaching staff shouted "don't let him beat you, he's 40!"
Pack is a long way from 40 and a long way from being finished as a player, he prides himself on his fitness which is still exceptional.
In a rare break from training a Padel tournament was organised for Thursday afternoon. It would be brave to bet against Pack coming out on top.
He happens to be good at just about every sport as well as being incredibly competitive.
Squad bonding is another key objective of this week.
There is hope, optimism and determination that this campaign can be different from the past two where Pompey have spent the season battling the drop.
The playing budget has been increased although it is understood it is still likely to be in the bottom quarter of the Championship.
Key incomings will arrive soon. However, sporting director Richard Hughes was tight-lipped when asked about Estonian Rocco Shein and Serbian striker Marko Milovanovic earlier this week.
There is more money to spend than there has been in previous years.
But there will also need to be outgoings - more than half a dozen are likely to depart otherwise players will end up being left out of the 25-man squad.
Moves away for Jacob Farrell and Ibane Bowat have been discussed by Mousinho and others will need to go as well.
The Wrexham interest in player of the season Terry Devlin has not disappeared.
The hard work is well under way, but we'll have to wait the best part of 10 months to find out what it will achieve.
🎧Portsmouth want to spend more on permanent signingspublished at 13:14 BST 9 July
13:14 BST 9 July
Media caption,
Moon's Musings: Greetings from Ireland
Loans often happen later in the transfer window. Portsmouth want to spend more money on permanent signings.
You would rather spend your money on permanent signings, loans are a bit like renting a house rather than paying off a mortgage.
The World Cup will delay any loans and the Premier League does not start until the fourth Saturday in August so squad players and young players who might be loaned out will happen quite late this year.
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator answers fans' questions while away with the team on their pre-season trip in the Republic of Ireland.
Inside Pompey's pre-season training camp in Irelandpublished at 09:32 BST 9 July
09:32 BST 9 July
Media caption,
Andrew Moon joins Portsmouth for pre-season in Ireland
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth FC commentator Andrew Moon has joined the Portsmouth squad for their pre-season training camp in the Republic of Ireland.
The group are not playing any official games during their time in Ireland but have been putting the work in to get prepared for the upcoming Championship season.
After this camp, they have friendlies scheduled against Woking, Aldershot, Bristol Rovers, Wycombe and Farnborough before travelling to Germany to take on Darmstadt 98.
Steward returns to Saints after signing new Pompey dealpublished at 21:33 BST 7 July
21:33 BST 7 July
Image source, SNS
Toby Steward has returned for a second season-long loan with St Johnstone after signing a new three-year contract with Portsmouth.
The 21-year-old made 45 appearances last season as Saints won the Championship title and a return to Scotland's top flight, keeping a league record 20 clean sheets.
Steward told St Johnstone's website: "I'm so excited to be back. I had a great time last year.
"As soon as I heard there was interest, I wanted to come back.
"It's a new challenge for us this season – a really good league with strong opposition. But this is a great opportunity for me."
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho told his website: "It's no surprise that they wanted him back and we're pleased that he will now get a chance to test himself at a higher level.
"We have given Toby a new contract because we believe he has a very bright future in the game and I look forward to seeing how he performs during the 2026/27 campaign."
Gossip: Portsmouth face competition for Pepplepublished at 10:43 BST 7 July
10:43 BST 7 July
Bolton and Sheffield United have joined Portsmouth in the race to sign Plymouth Argyle striker Bim Pepple. The 23-year-old scored 18 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions for Argyle last season. (The News), external
Both South Coast derbies moved to Sundaypublished at 17:14 BST 3 July
17:14 BST 3 July
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Both South Coast derbies ended in draws last season
The two South Coast derbies between Southampton and Portsmouth next season have both been moved to Sunday kick-offs.
The game at St Mary's will now go ahead on Sunday, 11 October (12:00 BST) with the return at Fratton Park on Sunday, 28 February (12:00 GMT).
The two sides met last season in the Championship for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign following Southampton's relegation from the Premier League.
Both games ended in draws with a goalless stalemate at St Mary's in September and a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park in January.
The last league win by either side in the derby came in April 2005 when Portsmouth won 4-1 in the Premier League.
Portsmouth title-winner Higham dies, aged 95published at 13:22 BST 3 July
13:22 BST 3 July
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Peter Higham (left, in 1956 at the City Ground) made one appearance during Pompey's 1949-50 First Division title defence, before playing for the likes of Preston and Nottingham Forest
Portsmouth's oldest living ex-player, former centre-forward Peter Higham, has died, aged 95.
Higham was the last surviving playing link with the Pompey teams that won the First Division title in 1948-49 and 1949-50.
He joined the club in 1948 as an amateur while serving in the Royal Marines, and made one appearance in Pompey's successful defence of their title in 1949-50.
Higham turned down the offer of a professional contract at Fratton Park, and chose to move back up north, joining Bolton Wanderers in 1950.
He went on to score 10 goals in 15 matches for Preston North End, before moving to Nottingham Forest where he won a Division Three (South) title medal in 1956.
Gossip: Pompey closing in on Milovanovicpublished at 10:20 BST 2 July
10:20 BST 2 July
Portsmouth have entered talks to sign Serbian striker Marko Milovanovic from UD Almeria but the Spanish side are asking for £3.5m for the 22-year-old. (Antonio Martinez via X - in Spanish), external
Gossip: Pompey to sign Stockport's Baileypublished at 10:43 BST 1 July
10:43 BST 1 July
Portsmouth are set to sign English midfielder Odin Bailey on a free transfer after the 26-year-old departed Stockport County this summer. (Sam Byrne via X), external
Centre-back Ibane Bowat, 23, who has represented Scotland Under-21s, has been given the all-clear to leave Portsmouth this summer by Pompey boss John Mousinho. (Portsmouth News), external
Mousinho shows rare honesty about Robins' approachpublished at 18:52 BST 29 June
18:52 BST 29 June
Andrew Moon BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator
Media caption,
John Mousinho: "Bristol City spoke to my agent"
There is always a lot to discuss on the opening day of pre-season but today's interview by John Mousinho with BBC Radio Solent was particularly fascinating.
His honesty over what happened regarding the Bristol City management job is rare in football.
Yes, there was interest, but it did not get beyond Bristol City speaking to Mousinho's agent, according to the Portsmouth boss.
It is interesting, given their respective CVs, that the opening was offered to Lincoln City's Michael Skubala, who accepted, and - reportedly - Bournemouth coach Tommy Elphick ahead of Mousinho.
The playing budget will increase for next season and Pompey are set to spend more than in previous summers.
There will have to be departures. Mousinho far from guaranteed that Colby Bishop will remain a Pompey player this summer. Free-agent midfielder Archie Collins can be crossed off the list of potential targets, Mousinho says.
He would not be drawn on what could be achieved this season, instead suggesting we will have a better idea at the start of the campaign.
There might not be any matches but July is a big month for Portsmouth. Recruiting well will certainly help ensure that, even if another club come calling for their head coach, Pompey might be able to hold on to Mousinho for a while longer.
Gossip: Portsmouth join the race for midfielder Sheinpublished at 10:24 BST 26 June
10:24 BST 26 June
Portsmouth are now favourites to win the race to sign Estonian midfielder Rocco Shein. Cardiff City and Millwall have also shown interest in the 22-year-old who currently plays for Fredrikstad in the Norwegian top flight. (Fredrikstad Blad - in Norwegian), external
The biggest dates on the calendar are...published at 19:03 BST 25 June
19:03 BST 25 June
The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you have got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.
