'Fans will stay nervy while Mousinho rumours swirl'

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In other years, Portsmouth's retained list has been hotly anticipated, containing some surprising news.

Not this year - it was exactly how everyone would have predicted.

The only thing on Pompey fans' minds right now is whether the club can retain their highly-rated head coach.

It is hard to keep a secret in football. People like to talk. Very few transfers happen without being leaked along the way. Often deliberately, sometimes accidently.

But perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that there's so little information eking out about John Mousinho's future. When he was appointed, it wasn't until Portsmouth approached Oxford to discuss compensation terms that the news leaked out.

Portsmouth were very tight-lipped during the whole process but the other two candidates on the shortlist, Ian Foster and Liam Manning, were both widely known to be contenders. As were several other people who had applied for job.

Mousinho has twice turned down moves to other Championship clubs. Both times very little information has emerged and it was significantly after the event when it did. Mousinho is not one to go around boasting about opportunities he's been offered.

Does this mean he's leaving? Not necessarily. Bristol City may well still be talking to several candidates. Not many details beyond Michael Skubala's release clause being activated have emerged.

Mousinho could come out and distance himself from the job but that would be highly unusual and set a precedent for any future speculation or job links. Mousinho has also spent a good amount of time answering questions about his future.

I wouldn't want to predict which direction things go from here. While there's a vacancy at Ashton Gate with no clear favourite to fill it, things will remain nervy for Portsmouth fans.