Matt Ritchie in ‘sad’ Portsmouth exit developments after special return – Exclusive
This article includes exclusive comments from seasoned commentator and football expert Ian Darke.
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has been praised for his role in the stand-off with winger Matt Ritchie, who looks set to leave Fratton Park.
Ritchie wanted guarantees over the playing time he’d receive during the upcoming season.
Mousinho was unable to offer this, and Ritchie now seems destined to seek these guarantees elsewhere.
Mousinho praised for his role in Ritchie stand-off
The situation has disappointed a lot of Portsmouth fans, who believe that Ritchie still has plenty to offer the team, even at the age of 35.
However, iconic commentator Ian Darke believes that Mousinho has reacted well, given the circumstances.
Speaking exclusively to Pompey News, he said: “I think it’s sad that it’s ended the way it has, because Matt Ritchie coming back to Pompey was an emotional return. He grew up in Gosport and used to watch the team from the terraces when he was young.
“It was special for him to come back to Pompey, and he played a big part last season in being a bit of a leader on the pitch and helping the club to stay up with something to spare.
“So I understand the situation from both points of view. The manager hasn’t been able to offer him any guarantee that he’d be in the first team at 36 years of age, and he can’t really…”
Ritchie has been given permission to find a new club, and it’s understood that Mousinho won’t stand in his way if an offer comes for him.
This hasn’t happened yet.
Perhaps more pressingly, Portsmouth haven’t found a suitable replacement in the transfer market. So, there’s potential for this situation to be resolved. However, the odds are that Ritchie has played his last game in a Pompey shirt.
Mousinho praised for his attitude towards Portsmouth fringe players
Mousinho has generally been honest with the players who he believes are surplus to requirements and hasn’t prevented them from seeking first-team football elsewhere.
Christian Saydee, who left Pompey to join Wigan this summer, has praised Mousinho for helping him find a new club. Ryley Towler has also been allowed to leave with the minimum of fuss.
| Appearances | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists |
| 40 | 2246 | 5 | 1 |
Darke suggested that this approach can help to keep morale high within the squad.
He said: “I think one of the reasons he’s been a success as a manager is that he is pretty straight with the players. They know where they are with him.
“There’s an element of being fair to the players in it, but it’s one of those things that makes sense from both points of view.
“They don’t want to be sitting around, kicking their heels on the bench all season. They want to play, so where they’re going, they are going to play more often.”
Sign up for the Pompey News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Portsmouth news sent straight to your phone.