Some players find it hard to say anything positive about a club when they leave having not been able to work out a new contract. Not where Ben Davies and Pompey are concerned.
The popular right-back, winner of numerous player of the year awards, has moved to Grimsby after Pompey signed Drew Talbot to take his place in the squad.
The parting of ways is an amicable one and Blues fans will be sorry to see the bustling defender go. Equally he says he leaves with heavy heart.
Davies told The News: ‘I don’t think I have ever smiled as much playing football as I have done for Pompey and I am gutted to be leaving. Yet it is time for a new challenge.
‘I never asked for a straight two-year deal, a year was fair enough. As you get older you need to prove on a regular basis year in, year out that you are going to produce for the team. There has been interest. At my age people look at how many games you can play — and with 51 last season it proved I can still perform at a good level.
‘When you are piling up the appearances and everything is going well for you, thankfully people more or less see you as a player rather than think about your age. It has been a tough summer decision-wise and a hard one to call, but I have loved every minute at Pompey.
‘I would have loved to have stayed there, I didn’t want to leave. Yet for the wages couldn’t really move my family down, so it is a case of having to pack up and move again, unfortunately.
‘Pompey is brilliant, I cannot speak highly enough of it. I would have loved to have got promotion, but it wasn’t meant to be. I knew I was coming to a good club because I had played there before, but didn’t anticipate the affect it would have on me.
‘I don’t think I have ever looked forward to playing games so much. It’s that atmosphere, those supporters, it is one of those clubs which gets to you. When you walk in it’s a special place, what a fantastic club.'
Talbot is one of several new faces at Fratton seen as the Blues return for pre-season training. Others include Carl Baker, Milan Lalkovic and Danny Rose.
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