“You stand and fall by your decisions in football” – Don Goodman casts verdict on Portsmouth’s decision to sack Danny Cowley | OneFootball

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Football League World

·25 January 2023

“You stand and fall by your decisions in football” – Don Goodman casts verdict on Portsmouth’s decision to sack Danny Cowley

Article image:“You stand and fall by your decisions in football” – Don Goodman casts verdict on Portsmouth’s decision to sack Danny Cowley

Don Goodman has opened up on Portsmouth’s decision to sack Danny Cowley earlier this month.

With Pompey nine matches without a win in League One, the decision was made to part ways with Cowley, who had been at the club since 2021.


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Portsmouth, last week, hired John Mousinho as Cowley’s permanent successor at Fratton Park, with the club’s new boss getting off to a winning start away at Fleetwood on Saturday.

So what has Don Goodman made of events at Fratton Park in recent weeks?

On Cowley’s sacking and what has gone on since, Goodman told OLBG: “Well, they started off great, they were nine or 10 games unbeaten and were up there with the likes of Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich.”

“They were flying and looking good for at least a playoff spot, but then they started losing games and went on this really bad run.

“When you’re Portsmouth and it’s your fifth season in League One with ambitions of going up having lost a couple of times in the playoffs, then you’re desperate to make that next step.

“I haven’t been to a game this season, but I can only presume the crowd weren’t happy with the way things were going.

“That makes it difficult for a club’s hierarchy and ultimately, they’ve come to that decision.

“You stand and fall by your decisions in football whether you’re a manager, a coach, an owner or a chief executive. You stand and fall by your decisions and the decisions you make.”

“Clearly, they couldn’t see it getting any better, they’ve brought in John Mousinho who got off to the best possible start.”

Quiz: Have any of these 25 ex-Portsmouth FC players ever played for a Yorkshire based team?

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Article image:“You stand and fall by your decisions in football” – Don Goodman casts verdict on Portsmouth’s decision to sack Danny Cowley

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Indeed, following Saturday’s victory, Portsmouth sit 10th in the League One standings.

Now, the club are just six points off the play-off places, but Goodman believes whilst doable, it could be a difficult task to finish in the top six.

“There’s a lot of sides above them who are very good teams, so to dislodge them is going to be a difficult task.” Goodman explained.

“To name a few, currently there’s Ipswich, Bolton, Derby, Barnsley, Wycombe, Peterborough, Bristol Rovers and Oxford.

“Portsmouth have to overhaul all of these teams that are above them and I’m not sure that’s achievable.

“It’s a case of wait and see for John Mousinho, but I’m struggling to see if Portsmouth can compete this season.

“But it’s always sorry to see good people lose their jobs. Danny and Nicky Cowley are good lads and hopefully they’ll be back in football soon.”

The Verdict

Ultimately it did feel like the right time for Danny Cowley to depart Portsmouth.

Results were not going their way and it really did feel as though the entire season was getting away from them.

Whilst somewhat of a left-field appointment, John Mousinho certainly did himself no harm at the weekend with a comfortable victory to start his tenure.

Pompey will be hoping they can continue to benefit from that new manager bounce when they take on Peterborough in League One action this weekend.

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