Ashdown, Benjani, Henderson and Rocha depart, Huseklepp returns

Portsmouth have announced that Jamie Ashdown and Ricardo Rocha will join Benjani in not being offered a new contract at the club.

Ashdown, Rocha and Benjani’s current deals expire this month, and whilst Benjani was released earlier on in the summer, many expected goalkeeper Ashdown and die-hard defender Rocha to at least be offered new reduced contracts at the club.

However, the decision has been made by both manager Michael Appleton and administrator Trevor Birch to not offer the duo new contracts as they look to make a full clear out and attract some younger players to the squad.

It’s very sad, particularly in the case of Rocha and Ashdown, to see dedicated, quality and passionate players leaving the club. Even if they were offered new deals and they turned them down, at least we can say they we tried, but not to offer them anything seems a bit harsh - unfortunately as well as know, especially in the case of Linvoy Primus, cuts have had to be made all over the club and some of them are harder to take than others.

Replying to good luck messages for the Pompey stopper, Jamie’s wife Zoe said on Twitter: “Gutted to read in the press that Jamie’s not being offered a contract by Pompey. Jamie asked me to thank you all for the kind messages.”

This was also accompanied with the news that Stephen Henderson had completed a permanent move to newly promoted West Ham United after spending the season there.

Although the Irish stopped is yet to start for the Hammers, Henderson is likely to be a great hit in the Premier League in years to come and his departure was expected.

The fee in which Pompey received for Henderson’s services is still undisclosed but is thought to be a lucrative one in which Pompey benefit substantially.

Henderson said on Twitter: “Happy and honoured to have completed my move to West Ham today. Portsmouth, I will never forget you. Thank you for the memories.”

Birmingham City also confirmed that Erik Huseklepp had returned to Pompey after his loan-deal at St Andrew’s expired and it seems that the Blues are opting not to sign the Norweigian permanently.

Rumours are still doing the rounds about a return to SK Brann for Erik the Viking, but nothing is set in stone yet.

You can vote for us in the ‘Club-Related Football Blog of the Year‘ by voting on Facebook here or by tweeting the following exactly ‘@theFBAs @Pompey_Pages #club’.