Chaplin Set For Pompey Return
Monday, 1st Sep 2025 15:46

Blues forward Conor Chaplin is set to return to his local club Portsmouth on loan for the rest of the season, TWTD understands.

Chaplin, 28, has been a key player in Kieran McKenna’s back-to-back promotion-winning side having signed for his old Pompey boss Paul Cook from Barnsley in the summer of 2021.

We understand there is a recall clause in the deal which could see the attacker come back to Portman Road in January.

Chaplin’s contract is up next summer but with the club having an option for a further season.

In total, Chaplin, who started Saturday’s game against Derby, has made 127 starts and 47 sub appearances, scoring 55 times.

Worthing-born Chaplin, who came through the ranks at Pompey before moving on to Coventry in January 2019, was joint-top scorer in League One in the 2022/23 campaign, netting 23 times, plus three more in cup competitions.

Chaplin will become the fourth senior departure of the day, along with Chieo Ogbene, who is set to join Sheffield United on loan, Luke Woolfenden, who is moving to Coventry, and Ali Al-Hamadi, who exits for Luton, initially on loan.

With Conor Townsend not being registered due to his ACL injury, the Blues are now down to the required 25 players aged above 21 for their Championship squad.

It’s understood there is nothing in reports linking Elkan Baggott with Peterborough or the Blues with former loanee Mark McGuinness.

Photo: Matchday Images

Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

Page:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Westy added 18:34 - Sep 1 Absolutely can't believe this. Surely this is a huge mistake - out of the blue and totally unexpected. I think he deserved far more game time last season than what he got. Rather makes me think all is not well behind the scenes.
7

SickParrot added 18:46 - Sep 1

I have mixed feelings about this. I don't think Chappers is the player that he was 18 months ago, so I wasn't expecting him to be a regular starter and he may therefore be moving for more minutes on the pitch. We will however miss his enthusiasm and team bonding skills on the training ground and around the club. Although Morsy was our leader I always felt that Chappers was the glue that bonded our close knit team together. It is therefore sad that he is leaving.
I had assumed that Szmodics would be our number 10 but is Nunez also an option that far forward?

Lennie added 18:50 - Sep 1

Interesting…. It’s clear KMK has a plan … the core senior players who took us from league 1 to the premiership who were critical to that success but found wanting in the premiership have now been moved on ( Morsy, Chaplin, Aluko, Burgess) they did a fantastic job for us and we and I’m sure KMK will always be grateful… but we need to move forward and he is building a squad and a new identity and culture for our next push which will be better equipped for survival… give them time to adjust and gel and a bit of luck and some half decent referees and we will be a real contender this season …

Lennie added 18:50 - Sep 1

Maltster added 18:53 - Sep 1 Chaplin was the best footballer in the team. It seems crazy to loan him out to a competitor especially when the rest of oiur forwards are under performing
6

Maltster added 18:53 - Sep 1 Chaplin was the best footballer in the team. It seems crazy to loan him out to a competitor especially when the rest of oiur forwards are under performing
2

Nottsblue66 added 19:01 - Sep 1

I'm sorry I lost confidence in McKenna 4 wins in 12 months and one of the wins was at home
Chaplin was a great player for us now we have brought in a bunch of misfits who cannot play together
3 points out of a possible 12 not good enough
I've heard that several players don't like McKenna
He is a 1 trick ponie who only has 1 plan no plan B same formation all the time
If we lose to Sheffield utd then I can see the owners getting really restless
He is the highest paid manager in the championship and needs to show us fans that's why he is the highest paid manager

KMcBlue added 19:14 - Sep 1 Szmodics has given us very little. Chappers gave us everything
7

warktheline added 19:17 - Sep 1

It’s a tough decision, he’s been in the past central to winning games for the club, but unfortunately like several others around that period has made very little impact against the top end of clubs, for instance Leeds and Leicester, when we achieved promotion into the Premier. That trend was more than evident in the Premiership. McKenna is tasked with producing a new squad that will not only win promotion but be able to compete in the Premier thereafter. The lad has been terrific for the club and provided us with some great and memorable performances alongside results.

BlueDread added 19:18 - Sep 1 Thought he’d be here to see out his contract. Such an intelligent player and great Championship level skill - just not physical enough for that step up last season.
3

Treacle added 19:22 - Sep 1 Other players far less worthy of a squad place. He was the most offensive player against Derby.
4

blueboy1981 added 19:29 - Sep 1 Now do some of you Critics believe me ? - McKenna has another four years on his lucrative Prem’ Contract ! Your Messiah couldn’t CARE LESS !! Time to bring in Wilder with some Fire in his Belly - but what would anyone now be able to do with this miss match of the moment ?? Who knows now what the Hell is going on ??
-4

ThatMuhrenCross added 19:30 - Sep 1 Honestly? This could be the one that makes a lot of fans turn on the current regime. If we don’t start getting results with the current lot right away, I can see it turning toxic.
9

Ipswich1977 added 19:38 - Sep 1 McKenna, you've lost it. What the hell have you done man? You have just put untold pressure on yourself and unfortunately it's going to haunt us all.
5

armchaircritic59 added 19:40 - Sep 1

Well I think there's one thing for sure, after the somewhat seismic events of the last few days. The squad that's now here is definitely KM's squad, there can be no excuses made on that front at least.

In the meantime everyone needs to back those that are here, it's not the other players faults that fan favourites have departed. Let's just get behind the team and leave judgements for another day, good or bad!

1981Ipswich added 19:44 - Sep 1 Loved watching Chappers. Great servant, always gives a good shift and would have preferred him coming on with 30 minutes to go with fresh legs rather than going to a competitor.
6

SussexTractor added 19:55 - Sep 1 He is loved by the Town fans. It better have been well thought through.
5

Taricco_Fan added 20:01 - Sep 1 Terrible decision. I think Chaplin could have played a pivotal role this season. His ability to pick a pass out wide and then find space on the edge of the area for the cutback pass and shot (and often a goal) was a joy to watch. Off the pitch he was at the heart of everything good over the past few seasons. This just doesn't sit right with me.
10

dirtydingusmagee added 20:17 - Sep 1 If things dont improve very quickly, this will come back to bite McKenna, imo He has spent a lot of money replacing the players that brought success at this level ,Early days but some new faces are looking very average at best and far from what was expected or required.
2

OliveR16 added 20:20 - Sep 1 'we need to move forward and he is building a squad and a new identity and culture'. Exactly. One that can't win - literally can't, even at Bromley. The only thing that will save KMK and MA is if we win nearly all of our next 11 games - and thereafter. Currently I don't think either of them will be around at the end of the season.
-1

BlueWax added 20:25 - Sep 1

This news could get a record number of comments on here and no wonder!
In my opinion Chaplin would have made an ideal captain.....Bromley match a perfect example!
It wasn't that long ago we were running towards adversity.....I just hope now we aren't hurtling to humiliation!
The team we loved has been disbanded which seems very sad although of course we must all back the management etc but it's a big restructure!
Thanks Chappers, what a player and character. Fingers crossed you are back in the proper blue shirt next season!

JewellintheTown added 20:48 - Sep 1

Nooo! Not lil" Chappers!
There must be a genuine reason we don't get to know yet, maybe Chappers wants to get some 1st team game time & sharpness & rebuild his confidence at somewhere he's got good memories & knows, with fans that'll support him, so he can come back in Jan at the top of his game.
Can't think that its club or McKenna or Ashton wanting him out, hence loan with Jan recall, so supporting him.

JewellintheTown added 20:49 - Sep 1