Liverpool are going through an overhaul behind the scenes - with Pompey figures at the heart of the sweeping changes.
And it’s a little-known former Fratton face who could be charged with taking the Premier League giants forward in a new era.
The Pompey connection dominating events at Liverpool
The Reds confirmed on Sunday that long-serving ex-Pompey midfielder Richard Hughes is to leave Anfield, after two years as the club’s sporting director.
Hughes, who is a former columnist for The News, arrived in one of the English game’s most powerful roles from Bournemouth and oversaw the appointment of two managers as well as £670m of player spending.
Slot guided the club to the Premier League title before a more challenging campaign, which resulted in the Dutchman’s summer exit. He was replaced by Andoni Iraola, who Hughes is acquainted with from their time with the Cherries.
Now the man who made 165 Pompey appearances across nine years at Fratton Park has made his expected departure, joining Saudi Arabian league leaders Al Hilal.
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The news of Hughes’ exit was confirmed on Sunday, as he reflected on his period as the power behind the Anfield throne.
He told Liverpool’s website: 'First and foremost, I would like to reiterate what I said upon my arrival – it has been a source of great pride to have been given the opportunity to serve this incredible and unique institution. That is something I will always be grateful for.
'My appreciation extends to ownership for their support and leadership, to club staff at all levels who give so much to make Liverpool FC what it is, to the players who make such an enormous contribution and to the fans who support the team in great numbers whenever and wherever games take place.
'I’ll always follow and support the club with great affection, and I wish everyone involved nothing but success for this season and beyond.’
Hughes’ decision follows the exit of close pal Michael Edwards from his role as chief executive officer of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who own Liverpool, in July.
That friendship was formed at Fratton Park with Edwards, who was known as ‘ProZone Eddie’, spending nearly six years as head of performance analysis from 2003 until 2009.
He then moved on to Spurs before joining Liverpool, taking on a series of prominent roles with the Premier League big guns and FSG.
Another familiar face is leaving the club with Hughes, too, with former Pompey striker Mark Burchill operating as their chief scout.
The man who suffered a serious knee injury at PO4 after joining in 2001 is joining his old team-mate at Al Hilal.
That means there’s some key Liverpool roles which need to be filled, most significantly the vacant sporting director job.
And it’s yet another former Blues backroom staff member, David Woodfine, who’s in the running to take that key role.
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‘Woody’ joined Pompey as a performance analyst in 2005, before going on to succeed Edwards as head of performance analysis in 2009.
That’s a position he held for a year, before following Avram Grant to West Ham as the Blues went into administration and dropped out of the Premier League.
Woodfine then joined Liverpool in 2014 and has most recently operated as assistant sporting director.
He is said to be a potential consideration for the sporting director position, along with FSG technical director Julian Ward and director of football development Pedro Marques.