Liam Daish: Portsmouth’s outgoing academy coach questions belief in setup

Daish is Portsmouth-born and progressed through the youth ranks of his hometown club. He made one appearance for the first-team before being released from Fratton Park, and went on to play for the likes of Cambridge, Birmingham and Coventry.

He was appointed to his coaching role as former Walt Disney chief executive Michael Eisner took over in August 2017.

The League One club’s academy is ranked as category three under the English Football League’s system, meaning it is a ‘development environment’ for players from the under-nine age-group to under-21. Category one is the highest level.

“There was lots of talk and plans on the takeover regarding what the view was and what the vision was for the academy,” Daish said.

“Being through that time, what’s been frustrating for me is probably that didn’t come out in fruition and I saw real no signs of that happening. It’s got harder and harder.

“Obviously the pandemic didn’t help. It’s been a difficult year last year with not being able to work from Roko [Portsmouth’s training ground] – being off-site.

“But also at times I’ve felt I’ve been a bit of a hinderance – not me personally – but that the academy has been a bit of a hinderance, and I think there’s been a lack of belief in the academy.”