On the day they have lost skipper Michael Doyle to Coventry, Pompey have admitted they will struggle to keep hold of Enda Stevens.

As Doyle decided to return to Coventry, chief executive Mark Catlin suggested that what left-back and player of the season Stevens was being offered elsewhere was in a different league.

Sheffield United are in the box seat to sign him following their promotion to the Championship and it would be a great move for a defender who still has hopes of playing for his country.

Catlin told The News: ‘It is going to be very difficult for us to compete with the figures I am hearing being mentioned for Enda at other clubs. That is just the reality of the situation. It’s sad, but it’s football.

‘I think we’ve done relatively well in the four years since coming out of administration considering this will be the first player that’s willingly left with a value attached to him.

‘We have spoken with Enda, but it’s clear the figures we are talking are in a different world to where he is. ‘I’ve heard the rumours of him signing a three-month deal with us, but no agent would allow that to happen. After all, he could get injured during that time.’

Meanwhile Doyle says he decided to join Coventry because they had a definite deal on the table and Pompey did not.

He told The News: 'The gaffer said he wanted me there and would try to get something done over the summer, that was it really. I always thought it would be pretty straightforward — get the job done, get promoted and talk contracts.

'When I went in on Tuesday and saw no contract there, that was it, I walked away thinking this could go on all summer. At Pompey, I’ve obviously seen other players in similar situations to myself ending up not having a contract there. With Coventry’s interest, I didn’t have to wait all summer on Pompey.'

Pompey fans will now be worried who else might follow Doyle and probably Stevens out of the door...

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