Bristol City rule out permanent Atkinson sale to Portsmouth as statement released
Bristol City have no intention of Rob Atkinson’s loan spell at Portsmouth becoming a permanent deal, the Championship club have themselves confirmed.
The Robins posted a statement on the official club website on Sunday (2 February) warning fans not to expect much activity on Deadline Day.
Atkinson has made just five Championship appearances for Pompey but has impressed supporters at Fratton Park with his performances.
There is no hope of the loan deal being made permanent, though, as Bristol City said in the statement:
“Rob Atkinson – after a long absence due to injury, it is vital for Rob to play some games to prove his fitness and give him the platform to impact our first team next season.”
Rob Atkinson set for short-term impact at Portsmouth
After an impressive start to life on the South Coast, Pompey supporters will surely have been hoping that there would be some possibility of a permanent transfer at the end of the campaign if the remainder of the season went to plan.
However, his manager at his parent club clearly knows all about this himself as he confirmed his intention is for the 26-year-old to get some regular minutes and build up his fitness in the hope of then having an impact in the Robins’ first team next term.
With Pompey sitting at the wrong end of the table, Atkinson could prove to be exactly the type of defender needed as he is able to put his body on the line and provide the physical element in the backline.
While the lack of chance at extending this deal past the end of the season may not have been the news John Mousinho would have been hoping for, with a big push needed to keep their place in the Championship this term, he will hope that while he is at Fratton Park, Atkinson can do all he can to help the side’s efforts.
In other Portsmouth news, why Colby Bishop is still a massive player to ensure survival in the league.
For more Portsmouth news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.