A new protest group has emerged among Portsmouth supporters, calling on the club’s owners to demonstrate stronger commitment and financial backing. This movement has arisen amid growing frustration from fans who feel the club is being held back by what they perceive as overly cautious ownership.
Since taking control of Portsmouth in August 2017, Tornante, led by chairman Michael Eisner, has invested approximately £54 million into the club. This includes around £25 million spent on improvements to Fratton Park. Despite these contributions, the team has continued to struggle in the Championship, prompting vocal criticism from a section of supporters.
The Easter period saw fans making their discontent visible, with new banners appearing outside stadiums and messages directly targeting Michael Eisner and his family. For the Good Friday match at Carrow Road, travelling Portsmouth supporters displayed a banner at Norwich Train Station that read, “Eisners Out, Enough is enough,” highlighting the rising tension.
The group behind these efforts, Pompey Union, was founded by Luke Hurren, Cameron Gillon, and Cal Metcalfe. Ahead of a match against Oxford, they unveiled a banner calling for increased investment in the club, emphasizing that the team’s current Championship struggles need urgent attention.
Luke Hurren, a long-time season-ticket holder from Havant, explained that the three main organizers lead most of the group’s social media activity and communications. He noted that while Pompey Union is independent of the Pompey Coalition, some members overlap between the two groups. Hurren clarified that the goal isn’t necessarily to force the Eisners to sell the club but to encourage genuine commitment, increased investment, and accountability regarding promises made during the 2017 takeover.
The group has raised concerns about the club’s budget, arguing that injuries and underperforming players are a recurring problem linked to insufficient spending. They criticize the club for signing players who fail to meet Championship standards and for lacking a coherent development strategy, despite having numerous young players on the books.
Hurren emphasized the importance of transparency and a clear long-term plan. Fans want to know the club’s direction and ambitions, rather than hearing vague assurances. He stressed that operating with a bottom-tier budget is unsustainable for a Championship team, warning that it risks the club’s continued survival in the league.
Although there have been some positive steps, such as the setup of key staff including Andy Cullen, Rich Hughes, and John Mousinho, Hurren remains unimpressed by the overall progress. He believes that, apart from investment in Fratton Park, the Eisners have achieved little beyond what the fan-owned trust could have managed.
In summary, Pompey Union wants to see tangible action rather than promises, advocating for more substantial financial backing to transform Portsmouth into a stable mid-table Championship side capable of occasionally challenging for playoff positions. The group hopes their efforts will push Tornante to invest more strategically in both players and infrastructure to secure the club’s future.
