The Blues bought freehold ownership of the Hilsea and surrounding facilities last June.
Taking over the operation of the Roko Health Club was also part of the big plan.
Now, seven months into the project, an update has been provided on what has been happening at the facility and what the future holds.
‘We have just started work on upgrading the spa facilities. A new spa is being built, we are upgrading the pool areas, locker rooms, and have also invested in new equipment, which all members will begin to see.
‘What’s most exciting is that all of that should be completed in time for early spring, at which point we’ll be renaming Roko “The Pompey Health and Fitness Club”.
“But we didn’t buy Roko just to buy a gym – we bought Roko so we could improve our training facility, environment, culture and make it an elite environment.
‘For that we have to work hard in the fields.
“We are also exploring the possibilities of a 3G launch, which will benefit academia in particular.
“Also in terms of the building, we’re just trying to create that elite environment.
“Over the course of the summer, we upgraded the first team facilities with the new analytics suites, invested in part of the gym and also created a common room for the players.
“So when we’re doing the longer training sessions, there’s a place for them to relax between particular sessions.
‘In order to do that, we have moved the academy out of those buildings, where everything was very tight and congested, to the main building in Roko.
‘So now they have some purpose-built offices in the offing, but in a way that modernizes the way we want to go.
‘In the longer term, we will move the first team to the Roko building.
‘What that will do is, again, create new sports science medical facilities that are much improved.
“It will improve a few more areas in terms of match analysis, which is so important for players, not only in terms of training on the pitch, but also off it.”
‘Again, we will be able to take a step forward.
‘We will create a new dedicated gym area in the building.
‘There is so much wasted space on Roko that we can use. And that will be for the first team, the academy and an invitation to Pompey Women as well to use that facility.
“So that’s all very exciting, and now we’re working on those plans.”
