Matt Ritchie’s second spell at Portsmouth looks to have come to an abrupt end after their pre-season squad was revealed.
John Mousinho’s side, who managed to keep their Championship status for a second season with a solid mid-table finish, are gearing up to continue their upwards trajectory. They have agreed just one deal so far this summer in signing young winger Adrian Segecic from Sydney FC in the Australian A-League.
Ritchie On The Way Out
According to the Portsmouth News, the former Newcastle United winger looks set to be departing the club in the coming days after he was left out of Pompey’s pre-season squad that traveled to Slovakia. It is believed he has remained in England to find a new club, with the 35-year-old still having one year left on his contract at Fratton Park.
Ritchie, a boyhood fan of the club and a local lad hailing from Gosport, finally returned to his beloved side after 14 years away. He established himself in the Premier League with both Bournemouth and Newcastle, but with the Geordie side coming on leaps and bounds under Eddie Howe and their Saudi Arabian ownership group, he found himself on the edges and in need of a new side, joining Portsmouth on a free transfer.
The key reason as to Ritchie’s departure is the inability to promise him game time into next season, despite being an integral part of the squad last season. He made 41 appearances across the campaign, 29 of those being starts. Ritchie could stay within the Championship, with unnamed second-tier sides interested in signing the winger.
Writers’ View
It is a sad end to Matt Ritchie’s time at Portsmouth. With a two-year deal it was largely expected that he would end his career at his local side, but with assurances of playing time denied, he is now looking for a new club. Last season proved he still has a lot to offer in the game, being a solid leader in the Pompey side which stayed well clear of any relegation conversations. Whichever side picks up the soon-to-be free agent will have a very experienced player in their arsenal. As for Pompey, with Adrian Segecic arriving they have already adequately replaced their outgoing player but may want more support in the positions.
