Pompey chief Hughes confident of keeping Mousinho
· Yahoo Sports
Portsmouth sporting director Richard Hughes says the club are "really confident" of keeping manager John Mousinho this summer.
The 40-year-old kept Pompey in the Championship for a second successive season, winning four of their final six matches to finish 18th and avoid relegation.
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He signed a new two-year contract in September 2024, but has recently been linked with a number of clubs, including Bristol City, who have since appointed former Lincoln boss Michael Skubala.
"We're really confident we can [keep Mousinho]," Hughes told BBC Radio Solent.
"I think its a natural by-product of having an incredibly talented head coach who's a wonderful person. There's always going to be interest in him.
"We've been consistent with what we've said all the way through. Our aim as a football club is to keep that ambition in line with all the talented staff and good players we have here.
"If we can make that commitment to improving year on year, we can show John that level of ambition.
"But I don't think anyone who's affiliated to the club or seen that body of work that John has put together over the last three and a half years is surprised he's linked with things."
Hughes says the club have not received any official approaches for Mousinho and he was keen to dispel a lot of online rumours, adding the board have signed off on a budget increase for next season.
"We think we've got to a really good spot in terms of how we want to grow, and how we can see a pathway to this club being successful," Hughes added.
"It's really positive and something we're all really excited about, bringing in players again this summer to build the group and improve on last year's points total."
Pompey finished 2025-26 with one point more than they achieved after coming up from League One the season before, but were 18th, two places lower.
They will be joined in 2026-27 by relegated Premier league trio West Ham, Burnley and Wolves, plus promoted League One sides Cardiff, Bolton and Lincoln.
"We know with the teams coming into the Championship, its going to be really tough again," said Hughes.
"We can't compete for players with those teams coming down with parachute payments, and someone like a Middlesbrough losing the play-off final.
"There's a lot of money on the table, but we are now confident we can go toe-to-toe with the teams towards the bottom half of the Championship and sell what we're trying to do.
"We have to grow, and catch up, and we have to get to a competitive level which we're confident we can do. If we get the recruitment right, we'll be in a stronger position than we were last year."