Pompey completed their quest for Championship football in April as they booked their return to the second tier of English footbal as League One Championships.
It proved to be a relentless pursuit that was initally started in the summer of 2017, after Paul Cook’s Blues secured the League Two title thanks to a 6-1 win over Cheltenham on the final day of the 2016-17 season.
Since then, Pompey have turned to three different managers/head coaches to achieve their goal - Kenny Jackett, Danny Cowley and John Mousinho. However, it was Mousinho who finally delivered the prize as his side went above and beyond what his two previous predecessors’ teams could achieve.
That guarantees him a place in Fratton Park folklore. But it’s fair to say, his achievements might not have been entirely possible had it not been for some of the work undertaken at Fratton Park in the years building up to this season’s success. As director Eric Eisner often points out, it’s process that has been built and allowed to take shape over time.
In that sense, both Jackett and Cowley have helped shape Pompey’s rise - not that they would want any of the credit - with the former kicking it all off under the Eisners.
Mistakes were made along the way, as we all know. But with the latest transfer window fast approaching, what tranfer successes and failings were there under Jackett’s charge? We’ve assessed his 50 transfers during his near three years at the Fratton Park helm - and this is what we’ve decided, with each player given a rating out of 10. See if you agree or disagree.
Since then, Pompey have turned to three different managers/head coaches to achieve their goal - Kenny Jackett, Danny Cowley and John Mousinho. However, it was Mousinho who finally delivered the prize as his side went above and beyond what his two previous predecessors’ teams could achieve.
![Pompey stats: 50 appearances, 1 goal.
Verdict: A talented left-footed performer, Donohue was part of a Pompey side which, in 2018-19, finished fourth in League One to reach the play-offs, where they lost to Sunderland. In the summer of 2019, Jackett was keen to activate a club option to extend the former Everton apprentice’s contract by 12 months. But Donohue negotiated his Fratton Park release in search of regular first-team football.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/10/59/Dion%20Donohue.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Dion Donohue - 6/10
Pompey stats: 50 appearances, 1 goal. Verdict: A talented left-footed performer, Donohue was part of a Pompey side which, in 2018-19, finished fourth in League One to reach the play-offs, where they lost to Sunderland. In the summer of 2019, Jackett was keen to activate a club option to extend the former Everton apprentice’s contract by 12 months. But Donohue negotiated his Fratton Park release in search of regular first-team football. | National World
![Pompey stats: 96 appearances, 18 goals.
Verdict: The towering striker spent three years with Pompey after arriving Dagenham and was the Blues' Wembley penalty hero in the Checkatrade Trophy final against Sunderland. However, he is convinced that ‘60 per cent’ of Blues followers never took to him. If correct, that's a bit harsh given the low, undisclosed fee Pompey forked out form him and the fact that he could operate in numerous positions. For that, he scores a 7/10 here!](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/10/54/Oli%20Hawkins.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Oli Hawkins - 7/10
Pompey stats: 96 appearances, 18 goals. Verdict: The towering striker spent three years with Pompey after arriving Dagenham and was the Blues' Wembley penalty hero in the Checkatrade Trophy final against Sunderland. However, he is convinced that ‘60 per cent’ of Blues followers never took to him. If correct, that's a bit harsh given the low, undisclosed fee Pompey forked out form him and the fact that he could operate in numerous positions. For that, he scores a 7/10 here! | National World
![Pompey stats: 1 appearance, 0 goals.
Verdict: Signed on loan from Huddersfield to be Enda Stevens’ replacement ahead of the 2017-18 season, the promising left-back lasted just 39 minutes into his debut against Rochdale after slipping on artificial turf adjacent in front of the South Stand. Subsequently diagnosed with a chondral defect and meniscus tear to his left knee, little more than three years later his football career was over. On paper, this looked a great signing, but it just wasn't meant to be for the unfortunate Holmes-Denns.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/11/23/GettyImages-820900328.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Tareiq Holmes-Dennis - 3/10
Pompey stats: 1 appearance, 0 goals. Verdict: Signed on loan from Huddersfield to be Enda Stevens’ replacement ahead of the 2017-18 season, the promising left-back lasted just 39 minutes into his debut against Rochdale after slipping on artificial turf adjacent in front of the South Stand. Subsequently diagnosed with a chondral defect and meniscus tear to his left knee, little more than three years later his football career was over. On paper, this looked a great signing, but it just wasn't meant to be for the unfortunate Holmes-Denns. | Getty Images
![Pompey stats: 3 appearances, 0 goals.
Verdict: The left-back, who arived on loan from Burton, represented Pompey just three times before suffering a similar injury to Holmes-Dennis. McCrory made a good start to his Fratton Park career, featuring for 90 minutes at AFC Wimbledon and Northampton. However, he was then forced off after 21 minutes of Pompey’s 4-1 victory against Fleetwood.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/11/42/GettyImages-846201238.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Damien McCrory - 4/10
Pompey stats: 3 appearances, 0 goals. Verdict: The left-back, who arived on loan from Burton, represented Pompey just three times before suffering a similar injury to Holmes-Dennis. McCrory made a good start to his Fratton Park career, featuring for 90 minutes at AFC Wimbledon and Northampton. However, he was then forced off after 21 minutes of Pompey’s 4-1 victory against Fleetwood. | Getty Images