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Portsmouth are expected to once again battle to remain in the Championship for the following season, with nobody really giving them a chance to push up the table.
It was a perfect return to the Championship last season for Portsmouth, all things considered, as they achieved their ambition for the season.
While it would be the realistic aim once again this season, with John Mousinho hopeful he could add Yang Min-hyeok to help bolster the squad, the manager may believe his squad could achieve more.
The club have watched their relegation rivals from last year strengthen their squads with players from Tottenham Hotspur, with Jamie Donley going to Stoke and Will Lankshear heading to Oxford United, so they may follow this example.
While John Mousinho has said that remaining in the Championship is the aim this season, it is not the final destination.
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Mousinho eyes a return to the Premier League
Portsmouth have not competed in the Premier League since they were relegated in 2010, with the season looking doomed from the start following their nine-point deduction for entering administration.
Relegation is the last memory Pompey fans have of the English top flight; however, Mousinho is looking to change that.
Speaking to the Portsmouth News, he said: “Whenever I am asked about Pompey’s realistic ambitions for this season, I reply that it’s about staying in the Championship.
“First and foremost, that’s what we want to achieve, and, as a football club, that would give us another year’s worth of stability, another year’s worth of building, another year’s worth of financial stability to go again and put ourselves into a better position.
“Regardless of the league position, it’s about making sure this time next year we’re in a stronger position to challenge and build upon what we want to achieve as a football club.
“We don’t want to stay in the Championship forever, but we’ve got a bit of time to build to try to bridge the gap between us and some of the bigger clubs. And, in order to do that, we’ve got to stay in the league.”
Similarities to Portsmouth’s last Championship promotion
While there is nobody expecting Portsmouth to launch a title bid this season after they finished 16th last season, you just have to look back at the last time they were promoted.
Portsmouth won the Championship title in 2003, despite finishing 17th the previous season.
Now, with the money being spent by clubs aiming for promotion, this unlikely significant jump and surprise may not be achievable by this Portsmouth side; however, they just need to take inspiration from that side under Harry Redknapp to realise it is possible.
The ambition and the desire to improve performance from Mousinho should inspire Portsmouth fans that a Premier League return is possible, with some backing in the market.