Portsmouth, FA Cup winners in 2008 and runners up in 2010, have fallen on particularly hard times.

Facing another season in League One, their route back to the upper echelons of the Football league looks set to take longer than they may have liked. Whilst Leicester, Wolves and perhaps most painfully of all Southampton have climbed out at first attempt, Pompey did not.

They fell into League Two, getting out at the second attempt. Now they face a second attempt at getting out of League One under the watchful eye of Kenny Jackett. He's an experienced manager with knowledge and contacts, but that alone doesn't guarantee success.

Last season they finished outside the top six, but close enough to give cause for optimism this season. It's all up to them now, the squad has been reshaped, the debt restructured and the club rebuilt.

The team that won the FA Cup and the club that played Europa League football, have gone. In it's place is a big League One side hungry to establish themselves as rivals once more to the Saints they despise so bitterly.

If they're going to do it, FLW thinks these issues need to be high on Jackett's agenda.

They must ease their reliance on Brett Pitman, whether that is by changing formation or recruiting.

The former Bournemouth man scored 23 last season, the next highest scorer at Fratton Park got seven.

Whilst were talking about Chaplin, he didn't get a look in last season and he's apparently worth over £250,000 of Coventry's money.

The sale looks to make sense, if he's not getting game time than give the money to Jackett to recruit in other areas of the field.

Only Ben Close started more than 25 games in midfield for Jackett and that inconsistency surely didn't help their play off push.

He must find a settled, consistent side and ensure they play 30+ games together injuries permitting.

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