From the Snooze (Monday)

[stefeni]

Jason Pearce backed Michael Appleton to remain at Pompey – if he is given a clean slate to work with.The departed Blues captain believes Appleton will relish the challenge of getting his side back to the Championship at the first attempt.

Appleton has been linked with the vacant manager’s post at West Brom following the departure of Roy Hodgson for England.

But Pearce reckons he will stay put at Fratton Park and see his Pompey vision through to fruition.

The defender, who moved to Leeds in a £500,000 deal 10 days ago, feels it is crucial Appleton is given the chance to put his plans into action, however.

Pearce said: ‘The gaffer is great.

‘If he gets a clean slate and decent budget to work with he will bring the club back up.

‘It’s going to be a hard one but hopefully it’s a chance he really wants.

‘I think he’ll love the challenge.’

Pearce has been moved to thank Pompey fans for their support in the wake of his move to Leeds.

The 24-year-old was the first exit of the summer as administrator Trevor Birch looks to generate much-needed finance to keep the club afloat.

Blues supporters have been quick to understand Pearce’s departure was essentially out of his hands.

And their backing for The News/Sports Mail Pompey player of the season has provided a source of comfort for the player.

Pearce said: ‘I’m on Twitter and I’ve had a lot of Portsmouth fans wishing me good luck and saying I deserve the chance to play at Leeds.

‘It’s been really, really nice to have that.’


Michael Appleton is sat in front of a blank piece of paper, pen poised.Pompey’s on-going transfer embargo ensures there will be no names written at this moment in time.

That scenario will likely become rather more clear following the Football League’s forthcoming annual general meeting.

Regardless, the anticipated Blues clear-out will one day enable Appleton to dramatically reshape his squad.

Not that large-scale summer exodus’ are anything new at Fratton Park. After all, a staggering 63 Blues players have left during the summer months since 2009.

Some have departed for transfer fees, some have headed into the distance by mutual consent, some have had loan spells expired, the majority have been out of contract.

Yet all have featured in first-team football for Pompey in the form of league, cup and friendlies.

Those surges for the Fratton exits reflects the constant instability which has blighted the club during recent times.

The foundations built on shifting sands continue to creak and groan.

Even those players who remain a squad constant are too expensive in the current climate and earmarked for swift sales.

Still, an average of 19 departures over the previous three summers is a breathtaking statistic.

What’s more, there is going to be yet another major overhaul this time around as Trevor Birch seeks to raise funds and slash the £10.5m.

And Appleton himself views it as a precious opportunity to mould a club in his style.

So far, Jason Pearce has been sold to Leeds. The first of many, it would seem.

In addition, out-of-contract trio Benjani, Lewis Stockford and Lewis Tallack have not been offered fresh terms.

Stockford and Tallack may not have featured during the current campaign but both turned out regularly during pre-season.

Meanwhile, Karim Rekik, Scott Allan and Chris Maguire have returned to their parent clubs following successful loan spells.

Irish teenager Carl Walshe is another who has left, although never appeared for the first team in any fixture.

The previous time Pompey entered administration – in 2010 –it signalled the exits of 20 players that summer. That included seven of the side which started the FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Papa Bouba Diop and Prince Boateng were sold abroad as Andrew Andronikou sought to raise funds.

The contracts of David James and Steve Finnan expired, while the loan spells of Aruna Dindane, Jamie O’Hara and Frederic Piquionne ended.

Over the busy summer months, Angelos Basinas, Antti Niemi and Paris Cowan-Hall were released and loanees Anthony Vanden Borre and Hassan Yebda returned to their parent clubs.

Tommy Smith, Marc Wilson and James Hurst were sold, while Lenny Sowah’s contract ran out with the club compensated for his switch to Hamburg.

Finally, it was mutually agreed Gautier Mahoto, Gael Nlundulu and Danijel Subotic would depart – a decision instigated by Steve Cotterill.

Of course, of the 63 player summer exits since 2009, plenty have been loans. To be precise there have been 17, which equates to more than 25 per cent of that statistic.

Back in the summer of 2011, five out of the 17 departures under Cotterill were loan players.

They consisted of Carl Dickinson, Ibrahima Sonko, Jonathan Hogg, Ritchie de Laet and David Cotterill – of which arguably only de Laet left a decent impression.

Youngsters Tom Kilbey, Peter Gregory, Ellis Martin, Billy Goddard and Perry Ryan were also shown the door, all of which had featured in pre-season at the very least.

Nadir Ciftci turned down the offer of a new contract to join Kayserispor, with Pompey compensated.

While Marlon Pack was released, having spent the majority of the season at Cheltenham.

There were also exits for Darryl Flahavan, David Nugent, Michael Brown, Richard Hughes and Danny Webber.

Finally, in the summer of 2009 – when the extent of Pompey’s financial problems started to bite – there was a massive fire sale.

That contributed to 19 players departing Paul Hart’s squad to make for a disappointing pre-season.

Glen Johnson, Peter Crouch, Sylvain Distin, Niko Kranjcar, Djimi Traore and Arnold Mvuemba were sold in multi-million pound deals to provide crucial revenue.

Those whose contracts expired included Lauren, Sean Davis, Glen Little, Martin Cranie, Sol Campbell, Noe Pamarot, Jerome Thomas and OJ Koroma. There was also the retirement of Linvoy Primus following nine seasons with the club.

To complete the 19 departees, Theofanis Gekas, Armand Traore, Jermaine Pennant and Pele returned to their clubs following the end of their loans.

Pompey are now desperate to stage another clear out this summer.

Yet again it is going to be a pre-season of turmoil in pursuit of stability.