Defender on Blues radar

Guy Whittingham has confirmed Pompey are tracking non-league defender Will Spetch.

The versatile 22-year-old has been earning rave reviews for Poole Town in the Southern League, and the Blues boss has shown he is prepared to take a punt after Ryan Bird and Jed Wallace made the step-up from the semi-professional ranks.

Whittingham said: ‘We keep our ears to the ground and we’ve all got contacts around the area for non-league players, and especially if you’ve been told by people you trust.

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‘I haven’t watched him myself yet, but I’ve heard decent things from people. They have said he’s not bad.

‘You can never tell from one game. You’ve got to watch him two or three times, especially if you might be taking someone out of non-league.

‘Ryan has done well for us and Jed took that route before he joined our Academy. I came that way myself.

‘So if anyone is flagged up locally, we always try to get them watched.’

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While Spetch is believed to be on a contract and Pompey are unable to pay transfer fees, Whittingham is hopeful something could be worked out if he decides to make a move.

He said: ‘We haven’t even got that far to look at whether he’s under contract.

‘Like a lot of non-league clubs, if they have got a player who has the chance to get into the Football League, they very rarely demand this, that and the other for them.

‘You can usually work something out.’

– STEVE WILSON