DCSIMG

Why register?

CloseX

If you have not signed up previously

It's free and only takes a minute!
Benefits to registering with us
comment on storiesComment on stories
Customise daily e-mail newslettersCustomise daily e-mail newsletters
Arrange your newspaper/digital subscriptions onlineArrange your newspaper/digital subscriptions online
Offers, promotions and deals from partnersOffers, promotions and deals from partners
Add/claim your business on Find itAdd/claim your business on Find it
true
  • 24/05/13
  • 6°C to 12°C Light showers
  • Chichester 5-day weather forecast

    CloseX

    Saturday 25 May

    Sunny spells

    Temp

    High16°c

    Low7°c

    Wind

    From North

    Speed14 mph

    Sunday 26 May

    Sunny

    Temp

    High17°c

    Low8°c

    Wind

    From West

    Speed23 mph

    Monday 27 May

    Sunny spells

    Temp

    High15°c

    Low9°c

    Wind

    From South west

    Speed24 mph

    Tuesday 28 May

    Light rain

    Temp

    High14°c

    Low9°c

    Wind

    From West

    Speed23 mph

    Wednesday 29 May

    Light showers

    Temp

    High14°c

    Low9°c

    Wind

    From West

    Speed22 mph

  • Follow us
  • Place your Ad
  • Subscribe

Axed Harley desperate for a Fratton swansong

Jon Harley is determined to help Pompey end their winless run in his final match for the club   Picture: Steve Reid

Jon Harley is determined to help Pompey end their winless run in his final match for the club Picture: Steve Reid

 

Axed Jon Harley targeted a Fratton farewell and pleaded with Guy Whittingham: Give me one last game.

The experienced left-sided player has been informed his current one-month contract will not be renewed.

Along with Brian Howard, Mustapha Dumbuya and Lee Williamson, he will leave next Tuesday as a result of cost-cutting measures.

However, despite having no future with the Blues, Harley is desperate to play against Notts County on Saturday.

The 33-year-old insists he wants the chance to end Pompey’s 14-match winless run. The opportunity to also bid goodbye to the Fratton faithful means he has declared himself available regardless.

With loanees Scott Allan and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing having left in the past week, Whittingham will be struggling to fill the bench against the Magpies.

Despite being short on numbers, though, the caretaker boss may be reluctant to use any of the departing quartet if their minds are already elsewhere.

Harley insists that’s not the case for him, though. And he is eager for a swansong against his former club Notts County before moving on.

He said: ‘I was in a state of shock when Guy told me I would be leaving, but as I left the training ground I told him I still wanted to be available for Saturday.

‘The next morning I thought about it again and I really want to play it. It’s important to me.

‘It’s my last game and will be quite emotional. I just want to go out, put on something for the supporters and say thank you to everybody.

‘I’ve really enjoyed being at the club. Looking at the big picture, I completely understand the reasons behind me leaving, the most important thing is for the club not to be liquidated.

‘If me going helps, so be it. Being a Maidstone lad I have seen a club liquidated before.

‘I’m not worried about getting an injury. Injuries can happen at any time, in training or whatever. If it happens, it happens.

‘I just want to go out there one last time and put on a good show. It would be amazing if I could contribute to a match which ended this run.

‘I would love to play and really hope I’ll be given the opportunity, but it’s not something that is down to me.

‘I’ve just got to keep my fingers crossed that I can play on Saturday – I want that chance to say goodbye.’

Last month, Harley told The News he was eager to remain at Fratton Park.

Yet on Monday he was told by Whittingham he would not be retained.

And the former Chelsea man admitted his exit took him completely by surprise.

He added: ‘I was not prepared for it. Whether it is my fault for not reading what was going to happen I am not sure.

‘But it has been a bolt out of the blue. I will move on though. I’ll have to, and start looking for a new club.’

 

Comments

 
 

Back to the top of the page