Former Portsmouth midfielder, Kelvin Etuhu, joined Championship side Barnsley last week after turning down a deal at Fratton Park, but although I understand why he did it, I can’t help feeling let down by the former Manchester City man.
Etuhu, 24, was one of only two out-of-contract players to be offered a new deal at Fratton Park, along with Marko Futacs who has been offered a reduced deal to stay at the club, but after making 13 appearances following his January free transfer to Fratton Park, Etuhu has decided to move to Barnsley and turning down Pompey’s deal.
I have to be honest, I was slightly skeptical about signing Etuhu when he was first training with us having found out about his jail sentence and seen the video of the crime on YouTube. I wrongly judged Etuhu for what was really only a bar brawl, but my mind was quickly changed.
After signing on a Bosman, having been released by Manchester City (whilst on-loan at Cardiff) when he was sentenced to eight months in prison, Etuhu wowed the Fratton Faithful with his burst of pace and silky skills. With the departure of Liam Lawrence and Hayden Mullins to both Cardiff and Reading respectively, Etuhu’s presence in midfield was a vital one and he proved to be a key figure during the closing stages of the season.
Etuhu scored his only goal in a Pompey shirt during the 4-1 win over Birmingham at Fratton Park.
With Etuhu and Portsmouth only allowed to sign month-to-month contracts due to a transfer embargo, the Nigerian-born midfielder was out of contract at the end of the season. Despite this, and the obvious issues with the club’s misty future and ownership issues, I was confident Etuhu would repay the faith we showed in him to offer him another lifeline and a new opportunity in football after being forced out by Manchester City and Cardiff.
Especially after Michael Appleton was quoted in the Portsmouth News saying: “He wants to stay and has told me he is looking forward to the new season. At the end of the day, I said that one or two of the squad could be around next season and he is definitely one of them.
“He most definitely wants to stay and, with the greatest of respect, I would be very surprised if he wants to go to Bradford.”
Etuhu even went on trial with a number of clubs before Pompey but all of them overlooked him, although we don’t know whether this was for footballing reasons or not. Having given Etuhu a second chance in football, he was offered a new deal, and although it can’t be signed until the new ownership of either Balram Chainrai or the Pompey Supporter’s Trust goes through, it was there waiting for him.
Having spoken to a number of Pompey fans on the topic, it seems like there are mixed views over his departure. Many have taken a very logical and forgiving view which is completely understable – if you can imagine that your employer was having financial difficulties and didn’t know when you could sign a new contract or you had the option of moving to a new company with more financial security and higher pay, what would you do? I’d imagine most would do the latter, so if you put it in those terms then Etuhu probably made the right decision for himself, but his lack of loyalty has upset me.
Obviously we wish Kelvin all the best for the future, but can’t help feeling hard done by – especially as the transfer embargo meant he wasn’t contracted to the club and left on a free transfer!
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You state that he was on trial at other clubs but was overlooked. He was due to sign for Barnsley just after leaving jail, but failed his medical. Maybe you should should have a rethink on the loyalty issue.
Posted by Tom Smith | June 12, 2012, 08:12That’s exactly what I mean – if he failed a medical with Barnsley, but Pompey took the gamble on him and gave him a chance and let him train with the club for a month or two before signing, we’ve shown our loyalty towards him and given him a chance, yet he’s turned down a deal with us to join Barnsley – a club who turned him down after failing a medical and not giving him a chance to prove himself. Priorities are in the wrong place for modern day footballers.
Posted by Pompey Pages | June 12, 2012, 08:37He failed his medical at Barnsley last summer, Portsmouth didn’t sign him until early this year, a gap of around 8 months! Don’t want to sound condescending but it would seem that Barnsley were the first team prepared to take a chance on Kelvin but at the time wasn’t obviously medically fit and now he is! Oh, and it’s Kevin’s choice to make!
Posted by Bilko | June 12, 2012, 10:43So why didn’t he train with Barnsley until he was fit, like Pompey did – signing in January but allowing him to train for 2 months?
Posted by Pompey Pages | June 12, 2012, 11:10Maybe Barnsley couldn’t afford to carry an unfit player on their wage bill unlike Portsmouth, but then again Barnsley were gambling with their own money and not the tax man’s…. again!
Posted by Bilko | June 12, 2012, 11:30Shows how little you know about Portsmouth Football Club then my friend, as we weren’t gambling with the tax man’s money, we were operating on a loss which was being covered by our owners – who was to know that he would be arrested and bank account frozen so we had no access to funds, still operating on a loss.
He wasn’t on the wage bill whilst he was on trial, and was put on reduced wages one eventually signed.
Posted by Pompey Pages | June 12, 2012, 11:42Maybe he didn’t fancy reduced wages again when he could see what your high earners are being paid?
Posted by Bilko | June 12, 2012, 12:44Quite right about a lack of loyalty – quite honestly I think we are better off without someone like this. Don’t forget he’s gone to the manager who played a weakened side against Bristol City to ensure we went down (not that it made a lot of difference of course). I think the 2 of them seem made for each other, both fairly low down on the moral standard.
Posted by Michael | June 12, 2012, 10:37Just reading through this I have to agree that (even as a Barnsley fan) Etuhu has shown a lack of respect and loyalty to Pompey but there is very little loyalty left in football these days, particularly from players. We are fortunate to have a couple of players who will stay for the rest of their careers if allowed but the majority e.g. Butterfield are dictated to by agents. I believe it is the agents that force the moves as they pocket a nice fat cheque for their perceived troubles.
In reply to the post from Michael I’d just like to point out that the team fielded at Bristol City was our full strength team and that we were for the most part undone by some shambolic refereeing. Hill only chose a couple of youngsters in the last game of the season against Brighton.
Posted by Rhys | June 12, 2012, 12:07Thanks for the feedback Rhys, nice to hear a different side to things.
Posted by Pompey Pages | June 12, 2012, 12:31Swear he said only a few weeks ago he wanted to stay and repay the faith Appy showed in him by signing him?
Ow well, hope he enjoys relegation as that’s exactly what will happen to Barnsley next season
PUP
Posted by PfcBrad | June 13, 2012, 06:56Play the Lotto you’re obviously a soothsayer. It’s predicted every season but they’re still there come May.
Posted by Bilko | June 13, 2012, 11:08