There were widespread claims that Christian was a target for Pompey, but Alan dismisses them, saying:
"I spoke to Christian this week and he has been fantastic for me, a real strength when the first period of me being manager wasn't going particularly well.
"I will always thank him for that and I hope I can repay that faith in him."
Alan is looking to acquire one or two new faces still, and explains:
"The deal for Jermain came out of the blue but the one or two that I have hopefully set up already should see us home.
"But it is a moving feast, transfers, as we found out this week; I never thought it would happen with Jermain and even after the game on Saturday I was sincere in my reaction in saying just that.
"But that is football for you.
"It is a deal that in some respects we couldn't turn down because of the situation we found ourselves in with Jermain.
"The contract ran out in 18 months time - and in football that is not long at all.
"It was important to me as the manager that we got another good young player in - I have managed to do that in Bobby and I am pleased with that.
"Hopefully we can kick on from here; it is not quite the nuts and bolts, but it is getting near it, that last 10 game period.
"In that time, or the last five or the last two or three games, we need to be right in it and if we are we have the quality to make it and that is what we have to focus on at this time, to get ourselves in a position to be close."