John Mousinho issues Portsmouth contract update on first-team duo | OneFootball

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho believes that out-of-contract duo Marlon Pack and Connor Ogilvie will sign new deals to remain at the club next season.

Pompey had 15 players who saw their deals expire at Fratton Park this summer following their League One title-winning campaign, but just Pack and Ogilvie have been offered new deals as the club look to build a squad capable of competing in the Championship next season.

Mousinho's side won the 2023/24 League One title and will end a 12-year absence from the second tier of English football when the new season gets underway in August, and it's clear that he'll be busy in the summer, with a number of experienced players departing as free agents.

This shows that the Pompey boss is under no illusions that he'll have to strengthen his squad, with just two players deemed worthy of a new deal in the Championship.

Portsmouth will be hoping that Marlon Pack and Connor Ogilvie remain at the club next season

It speaks volumes that just two players have been offered new deals, but John Mousinho will be fully aware of just how important they both are.

Marlon Pack was Pompey's club captain last season, and he played 38 league games, skippering his side to the title.

The 33-year-old has a wealth of Championship experience thanks to spells with both Bristol City and Cardiff City, and his experience of the division would be invaluable next season, particularly as club captain.

Pack was born in Portsmouth and came through the ranks at Fratton Park before departing in 2011 when the club were in the Championship, so it would be fitting if he signed a new deal at the club to help his boyhood club navigate the second tier.

Left-back Connor Ogilvie joined Pompey in 2021, and despite being a key player since his arrival, the defender made just 24 League One appearances last season thanks to injuries.

Despite this, Mousinho is keen to offer him a new deal, which shows just how important he is to the club's plans moving forward.

Speaking to The News, Pompey boss Mousinho is confident that the pair will be wearing the blue shirt at Fratton Park yet again next season

He said: "From the discussions I’ve had with him (Marlon Pack) and Connor, it sounds like both players are excited about signing for the football club.

"You can get situations where you offer players contracts and they aren’t hugely excited about it, and they have other options elsewhere. With these two I don’t think we’re going to have that this year."

Portsmouth have lost a lot of experience, hence the need to retain Pack and Ogilvie

Portsmouth will wave goodbye to 10 players this summer, some of whom have a wealth of experience and have been at the club a long time, so it's crucial to keep the likes of Pack and Ogilvie just for some continuity.

The likes of Sean Raggett leaving hasn't gone down too well with supporters, and it's crucial that Portsmouth don't do too much in terms of changing the squad that won them promotion to the Championship.

By all means should Pompey look to recruit players to complement the group that did so well this season, but it's crucial that they keep players like Pack and Ogilvie who know the club and are leaders in the dressing room.

The duo might not even end up being regular starters for Mousinho when it is all said and done, but their know-how off the pitch and in the dressing room will likely be important.