The Cowleys are winners, it's a hell of an appointment from Portsmouth - Peterborough owner has say on former Huddersfield and Lincoln pair

But Peterborough owner, Darragh MacAnthony admitted he’s surprised at the nature of the new management team’s short-term deal at Fratton Park.

Danny and Nicky Cowley were appointed until the end of the season last week and got off to a winning start with a 2-1 success over Ipswich on Saturday.

The move by chief executive, Mark Catlin, and the Pompey board is one which has been given MacAnthony’s seal of approval.

He feels the Cowleys have shown their credentials in their management career to date and could well be a good for the Blues.

Speaking on The Hard Truth - Inside the Football Industry podcast, MacAnthony said: ‘The Cowley brothers, we know what they’re all about, they’re winners: that’s a hell of an important.

‘I’m surprised it’s only until the end of the season. I don’t know if it’s them or Portsmouth, I don’t know.

‘It’s a great job, a great project.

‘If you were going in there as a manager or management team, you’d want two and half or three years.

‘They’ve got good owners, a great fan base - it’s just a big club.

‘Maybe we will find out in time (whose decision the contract to the end of the season was) but for my pal, Mark, the CEO it’s definitely a good appointment.’

Peterborough edged a 1-0 win over the managerless Blues last week after Kenny Jackett was sacked, before the new appointment was made on Friday.

MacAnthony felt he could see a reaction from the Pompey players to their struggling form of late and defeat in the EFL Trophy final to Salford City.

He said: ‘I met Danny in the summer when he was out of work and we played Portsmouth just before that (the appointment) and you could tell the players had gone up a gear.

‘We were hoping to get the Portsmouth who got beat by Northampton four or five nil.

‘But good teams don’t do that forever, and eventually the players bite back. They worked bloody hard against us.’