Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill has issued a damning assessment of the academy structure at Pompey. Since succeeding Avram Grant at Fratton Park over the summer, Cotterill has been keen to run an eye over all aspects of the club and believes the youth system falls well short of expectations.

He told The News: "I'm not having a go at the younger ones. They have done well. But we're asking them to do men's jobs.

"The recruitment from the academy is key. Recruitment is everything. I'm not in charge of the academy, though.

"We have to recruit right and they in turn recruit right. It won't be a PR move here, not now. Not while I'm here.

"I don't think what has come through has been good enough. I don't think it is.

"The proof is in the pudding, people who come through, and we haven't had that here."