Pompey pick Barker

The News understands the Blues’ seven-man board late last night voted for the ex-Crawley manager to replace Guy Whittingham.

Barker will be joined by Steve Coppell in a director of football role, although it is believed Coppell will not be paid a wage.

Pompey are now finalising Barker’s contract details and other aspects with a view to officially unveiling him on Monday.

If there are no late hitches, it will end an 11-day search for a successor to Whittingham during which a seven-name shortlist was assembled containing the likes of Oxford’s Chris Wilder, Exeter’s Paul Tisdale and Steve Claridge.

The final two – David Connolly and Andy Awford – were interviewed yesterday before directors were canvassed over their preference for the next manager.

Chief executive Mark Catlin, who previously helped appoint Barker at Bury, did not have a vote in the process as he is not on the Blues board.

Instead Iain McInnes, Ashley Brown, Mick Williams, Mark Trapani, Mike Dyer, Chris Moth and John Kirk came to the decision to put Barker into the Fratton Park hot seat.