Mark: How have pre-season preparations gone for your club and are you confident going into the new season?

Bill: It's been a strange pre-season, with the new found wealth courtesy of Alexandre Gaydamak. We're still waiting in hope for an influx of players, which, thankfully, seem to have started with the arrival of Sol Campbell and the imminent signing of David James. Our pre-season games have shown us that the squad is lacking in depth though, so we need a few more players in before the end of the transfer window.

I'm confident that we'll have our best season in the Premiership since we were promoted, and will avoid the relegation worries of previous seasons. I think this coming season will be a good one.

Mark: Are you happy with the new signings that your manager has made and who do you feel will be the most likely to make a major impact?

Bill: The signing of Sol Campbell is a massive one, not just for the status of player Sol himself is, but also because it finally shows other players that we've got a bit of ambition about us. Glen Johnson will add quality to the right side of defence, and David Thompson will add a bit of bite to the midfield and, if he gets his full fitness back, could be one of the bargains of the summer.

As for the one to make the most impact, well, strangely enough I think that honour will fall to a player still to finalise his move. Manuel Fernandes, a 20 year old midfielder from Benfica, will join us once his groin injury has cleared and, by all accounts, will eventually cost us over £10 million. Jose Mourinho has called him the 'new Makelele', and he has the potential to be the best signing Pompey have ever made. Other signings could have a similar impact, especially if we pull off a miracle and sign Obafemi Martins from Inter Milan, who we are talking to at time of typing.

Mark: What are your clubs realistic aims in the campaign ahead?

Bill: Alexandre Gaydamak is looking to qualify for Europe, but most fans will be more than happy for a boring mid-table finish, with us being safe from relegation beforethe last two games of the season. Realistically, I think we should be aiming for a top half finish with Europe being a huge bonus.

Mark: Who are your tips to win the title, qualify for Europe and who do you feel will be relegated next May?

Bill: You can't look past Chelsea for the title. They've added a couple of up and coming players called Ballack and Shevchenko to their side to shore things up, I reckon they'll do well. The usual suspects of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have to be looking at the other Champions League places.

The UEFA Cup places will be fought over by Tottenham, Blackburn, Bolton, Middlesbrough and, if they can sign a striker, Newcastle (and even Pompey if we can get those last few players in place).

Watford must be one of the certainties for relegation, although I'd love to see them stay up, Boothroyd has done a fantastic job there. Out of the other two who came up, Sheffield United will find it tough I think. I can also see Fulham struggling this season, especially without Malbranque. I was thinking that Villa would be up against it but getting Martin O'Neill in was a huge plus for them.

Mark: Finally, as an opposing supporter, how do you think Bolton will fare in 2006-2007?

Bill: I like Bolton, you've got a fantastic manager in Sam Allardyce who, really, should have been England manager instead of McClaren. As usual, Bolton will be difficult to beat this season and I can definitely see you in the running for a UEFA Cup place. I think you need to add one or two more names to push onto the new stage of being a bet for a Champions League place, but so long as you have Allardyce and Kevin Nolan then you'll always be there or thereabouts.

Good luck for the season from Pompey

Walking Down The Manny Road would like to thank Bill for taking time out to conduct this interview. Bill is the webmaster of Pompey Online (www.pompeyonline.com), a site that has recently undergone a number of refurbishments and is well worth taking the time out to visit.

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