Portsmouth boss Hughes insists Mousinho will stay in 2026

Portsmouth sporting director Richard Hughes expresses strong confidence in keeping manager John Mousinho this summer after another Championship survival.

Mousinho's survival success Portsmouth’s sporting director Richard Hughes has stated the club is highly confident they will retain manager John Mousinho beyond this summer. The manager, aged 40, guided the team to Championship survival for a second straight season after winning four of their final six fixtures, finishing in 18th place and avoiding relegation. Mousinho extended his contract with a two-year deal signed in September 2024, though recent media reports have linked him with multiple clubs, including Bristol City, who later appointed former Lincoln manager Michael Skubala. ## Confidence in club leadership Hughes explained to the local radio station why he believes the club can keep Mousinho, calling it a natural outcome of having a highly skilled head coach who is also a respected figure. He noted that interest in Mousinho is expected given his quality. The club has consistently conveyed its intentions, emphasizing that its goal is to match the ambition of its talented staff and players. Hughes believes demonstrating a commitment to yearly improvement will help show Mousinho the club’s upward trajectory. He added that anyone connected to the club or familiar with Mousinho’s work over the past three and a half years would not be surprised by the managerial interest. ## Budget boost for next season Hughes clarified that no formal offers for Mousinho have been received and moved to dismiss widespread online speculation. He confirmed the board has approved an increased budget for the upcoming campaign. The club feels it has reached a strong position regarding growth and sees a clear route to future success. Hughes described the outlook as very positive and expressed excitement about bringing in new players this summer to strengthen the squad and surpass last season’s points total. ## Championship challenges ahead Portsmouth concluded the 2025-26 season with one more point than their total after promotion from League One, yet still finished 18th, two places lower than the previous year. Hughes acknowledged that the Championship will again be extremely competitive, especially with teams arriving with parachute payments and clubs like Middlesbrough missing out on promotion through the playoffs. He accepted that financial constraints make it difficult to compete for top talent but expressed newfound confidence in matching mid-table Championship clubs and clearly articulating the club’s vision. Hughes stressed the need for growth, catching up, and achieving a competitive standard, adding that proper recruitment will position them stronger than last year.