Mark Catlin's League One warning as Portsmouth thrash out futures of out-of-contract 11
Instead Fratton Park’s summer departures will be dictated by Danny Cowley – unless Championship offers emerge.
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Hide AdThey include Tom Naylor, Craig MacGillivray, Jack Whatmough, Ryan Williams, Andy Cannon, Ben Close, Charlie Daniels, Jordy Hiwula and Bryn Morris.
Duncan Turnbull has already been informed of his release, while Cowley has publicly declared his intent to activate an option to retain Haji Mnoga.
There remain concerns that Naylor, MacGillivray and Whatmough could attract Championship attention.
However, in terms of League One competition, Catlin is convinced Pompey can fight off potential interest in any player they intend to keep.
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Hide AdThe Blues’ chief executive told The News: ‘If Danny was determined enough to keep any of our out-of-contract players and we were in competition against League One clubs to do so, I am confident we’d be able to keep them.
‘Every player has a relevant value and, given the current state of finances at all football clubs, if there was a concerted effort from us to try to keep a player that’s out of contract, I am sure that we could.
‘At the end of the day, if a player wanted £100,000 a week then naturally you would be constrained by finances, you can’t blindly offer a salary out of sync with our budget and squad
‘However, given what I know at this level in League One, and to a degree in the Championship, there’s going to be a major downward shift in football finances.
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Hide Ad‘I stress, if we really wanted to keep a player – and Danny was adamant we did based on how he values that player within his squad – I believe we would have the capabilities to do so.’
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