PORTLAND United will hold talks over the future of their playing squad with five games of the current season remaining, boss Kyle Critchell has revealed.

The Blues’ situation is complicated slightly by their battle to achieve safety in the Wessex League Premier Division.

Critchell's men are yet to mathematically confirm their place at Step 5 for the 2023/24 season, but could have a clearer picture with five games to go, especially given they are on the back of a four-game winning run, following their midweek 3-0 victory over Brockenhurst.

Many players in Portland’s squad were inherited by Critchell when he in January succeeded Franklyn Clarke as manager.

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Only his assistant Jamie Symes, Shaun Bessant, Gareth Will, Jack Delves, Joel Hewitt and Bailey Rowe have been added to the playing books by Critchell, who is himself registered as a player if required.

Speaking to Echosport about his 2023/24 plans, Critchell said: “Jamie and myself are going to start having those talks with five games remaining.

“We’ll start to assess, evaluate and appraise those players. It’s an important time of the season for the club in terms of relegation but also people who want to stay.

“We don’t want to be in the same situation next year. We want to push on and look further ahead in the table. Lads are playing for those contracts next season.

“People should be excited about proving their worth and wanting to be at Portland.

“We’ve shown when we came into the club that we want to give people opportunities. The lads have had opportunities if they’ve played well or come up from the reserves.

“We want people to feel like they’re not in their comfort zone and are in a creative environment that is challenging whilst supportive.

“We will do that but we also want the club to continue to grow and progress. That’s at the forefront of all the decisions that we’re going to make.”

But Critchell denied there would be wholesale changes at the Blues, adding: “I think it’s bits and bobs.

“I think where we’ve brought in (six) already that signalled the initial changes we needed to make.

“I don’t think it will be wholesale changes but we’re definitely trying to identify targets that will help us progress and make those steps forward into the top half.

“That’s the initial target we’ll set ourselves and the rest will be in-house and discussed with the lads as opposed to externally.”

Portland visit US Portsmouth tomorrow (3pm).