Hughes was appointed as the Blues’ sporting director in September 2022

John Mousinho reflected on Rich Hughes’ Pompey legacy and praised the ‘absolutely huge strides’ made under him.

The Blues’ sporting director this week marks four years at Fratton Park since joining from Forest Green Rovers.

Pompey sporting director Rich Hughes, left, with Blues director Eric Eisner | National World

In addition to player recruitment and the left-field appointment of Mousinho as head coach, the former Everton Academy recruitment coordinator has also been responsible for driving improvements off the pitch, in terms of the training ground and club infrastructure.

And Mousinho has applauded Hughes’ ongoing impact at Fratton Park.

‘Compare where we were four years ago to where we are now’

He told The News: ‘Just look at where the football club was when Rich first came in from a performance perspective, from an infrastructure perspective. Look at all areas of the football club you want to develop.

‘His remit was very, very clear first of all - to introduce a new system and new model into the football club having previously been manager-focused.

John Mousinho and Rich Hughes, both centre, celebrate Pompey's League One title success last season | The News

‘Then it was to look at every single aspect of the sporting side, how we are performing on the pitch, what we are doing medically and SSC, what the training ground looks like, what Fratton Park looks like.

‘Where are we from a performance aspect away from on the pitch and how can we become a much more high-performing environment?

‘If you compare where we were four years ago when he walked in the door to where we are now, first of all we are competing in the Championship, which is the biggest priority and we managed to do in our first full season together. Secondly, we have made huge strides everywhere else.

‘The proof is in the pudding with Rich, we have worked incredibly closely together over the past three-and-a-half years and, to be honest, if you look at the way the football club has progressed, we have made absolutely huge strides. The impact Rich has made has been extremely positive.

‘We were over in the Portakabins and had plans in place to move over into the new building, which we did. Even then there’s always scope for further improvement. We always try to work on the pitches, work on the facilities, to bring ourselves up to Championship standard.

‘Take the club from where we were, the health club was pretty much falling down, trying to redevelop everything and bring us as close as we possibly can to Championship-standard.’

First Portsmouth signing was Ryley TowlerPompey boss John Mousinho, left, and sporting director Rich Hughes, right. | Jason Brown/ProSportsImages

Over the subsequent four years, he has overseen the arrival of 78 players, of which 37 involved transfer fees and 24 have been loans.

Mousinho’s first full season claimed the League One title and a long-awaited Championship return - and, crucially, Pompey have remained there.

‘He never interferes in team selection’

The head coach added: ‘Rich’s office is at the training ground, he is there every day, he’s involved in a very, very good way in everything we do.

‘He comes out and watches training, never interferes, never interferes in team selection, he’s always there to lend a helping hand.

‘One of the biggest compliments I can pay to him is when we’ve won games, the first person I see in the tunnel is Rich. When we draw games the first person I see is. When you lose 6-1, 4-0, 5-0, the first person I see is Rich.

‘It’s the same greeting, the same conversation - and I have seen other sporting directors and head coaches not working that well together.’