‘We’ve searched far and wide’: Rich Hughes addresses Portsmouth struggle to replace Marlon Pack

Portsmouth sporting director Rich Hughes has addressed the club's ongoing difficulty in recruiting a successor for 35-year-old club captain Marlon Pack. Hughes explained that finding a player to match Pack's dual impact as an on-pitch performer and dressing-room leader requires a specific skill set that Portsmouth have searched far and wide to identify.

Pack has started Portsmouth's last six Championship matches and remains head coach John Mousinho's first-choice option in the number six role. Although late-window signing Iyad Mohamed provides competition, Hughes highlighted that Pack's fitness, consistent form, and high leadership standards make him difficult to displace.