LATEST GOSSIP: Westwood could join coaching team

Former Manchester United youth product, Ashley Westwood, could join Portsmouth in a coaching role after being approached by Michael Appleton, according to reports in Lincoln.

Westwood, 35, is a former player with the likes of Swindon Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Wrexham, but recently moved in to the management game when he took over as caretaker-manager of Kettering Town before returning to playing with Lincoln City, signing a one-year contract in May this year.

Reports in the Lincolnshire Echo claim that Imps boss David Holdsworth has reluctantly agreed to not stand in the way of Westwood if he agrees to a Fratton move. The 6ft defender has made around 400 appearances in the Football League so has a vast amount of experience to offer the young Pompey players.

Although Pompey aren’t under an official transfer embargo, they are restricted by the Football League from signing any new players until they sell a number of the current squad in order to reduce the wage bill – however, it is unknown yet whether Westwood is likely to join in just a standard coaching role or could help bolster the playing squad in a player/coach role.

Having only just signed a contract in May, Westwood still has just under a year left on his current deal, but Lincoln have agreed to rip that up but in return want a pre-season friendly with Pompey, which would likely benefit the Imps financially.