‘Trust us’: Eric Eisner’s strong message to the Portsmouth faithful as Tornante eye the future
Tornante brought Pompey back to the Championship after seven seasons in League One.
Eric Eisner reflected on Tornante’s big decision over John Mousinho, admitting: “Hopefully, supporters now trust us.”
The former Oxford defender’s surprise appointment as Pompey’s head coach in January 2023 elicited a lukewarm response before a ball was kicked.
However, 15 months later, the Fratton faithful were celebrating their Championship return as League One champions, with Mousinho named the division’s Manager of the Year.
And Blues director Eisner hopes that outstanding success will finally persuade Pompey fans to trust them.
According to the interviewee, John’s coaching credentials, football IQ, and upstanding character made him a clear choice for the team.
‘We knew we’d get a little slick for it, but we didn’t expect the reactions we got.
‘Hopefully, we’ve earned the fans’ trust now, and when we make decisions in the future, they’ll see that we’re doing so for the benefit of the club.
‘John arrived at a time when people didn’t have much faith in us, but we knew we had the right guy, and John has been incredible.
‘We didn’t think it was a gamble; we were ecstatic with John from day one. He’s relatable to the players, so he was the obvious choice.
‘John has been fantastic, and you have to give credit to his entire team. The development of players from the beginning to the end of the season has been tremendous, and that is the barometer for me. The players’ development has been excellent.
‘And hopefully, people will continue to trust us.’
Tornante has sacked only two managers since taking over the club in August 2017.
Kenny Jackett’s reign ended after 211 games, while Danny Cowley, who had previously served as interim head coach, lasted nearly 22 months.
Eisner believes that being patient with their bosses will pay off.
He added, ‘This is a big deal. We held onto Kenny Jackett for a long time, and I believe it will benefit us in the long run. With so much turnover in English football, people understand that if they come to Pompey, they will not find that type of owner.
‘Even if we received a lot of criticism from the fans at that point, we are not going to change coaches. Look at Barnsley getting rid of theirs just before the play-offs; that doesn’t work; the grass isn’t always greener; just make sure you pick right the first time, and choose wisely.
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