Portsmouth Football Club News

Former Pompey idol Guy Whittingham has joined the club's first-team coaching staff. Whittingham, who scored 115 goals in 224 games for the Blues, has been appointed Development Coach. He will be responsible for bridging the gap between the Academy's under-18 side and the first team, including managing the reserves. Whittingham has spent the last six-and-a-half years as a PFA coach educator in the south-west. He has also been working for Pompey as Academy Technical Coach. Blues boss Tony Adams said: Guy is a great addition to the coaching team. We have been working one man down since I took over and his experience and knowledge of Portsmouth Football Club will be invaluable. “I spoke to Gordon Taylor at the PFA and he is very disappointed to be losing him. They tried hard to keep him. Guy will be involved in everything we do with the first-team squad and will be working specifically with the strikers on their movement, shooting and finishing. “He's hard working, honest, loyal and Pompey through and through. He was a big player for the club in his time with an outstanding scoring record here. I first came across Guy when he was doing demos on behalf of the PFA when I was taking my UEFA B Licence. I was very impressed but didn't think for one minute we'd end up at Portsmouth together.” Whittingham's role will link Ian Woan's Under-18 side, through the reserves to the first team. He will also be responsible for the club’s relationship with the Belgian side Zulte-Waregem. The former Blues striker said: “Tony Adams told me about the role and asked if I would be interested, and I was. I’m really excited about the job.” Whittingham holds Pompey’s club-record for the most goals scored in a season: 47 in the league and cup in 1992/93. The 44-year-old, who bought himself out of the army to play for the Blues, was nicknamed Corporal Punishment by fans. Whittingham played for Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday before returning to Fratton Park for a second spell in 1999.

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