Leeds United have completed the signing of Luke Varney and Jamie Ashdown, whilst they have also signed Rodolph Austin from SK Brann – a deal that could allow Brann to return Huseklepp to Norway.
Varney has signed a two-year deal at Elland Road after completing a medical on Monday, freeing up further wages on Pompey’s wage bill. It is also thought that the transfer fee Pompey received for Varney’s transfer will go straight to Derby County in order to pay the remaining debt owed to them for his transfer to Fratton Park last summer.
The former Blackpool, Derby and Crewe man has made 31 appearances since completing a move to Pompey for around £750,000 last summer, scoring six goals in the progress.
Varney suffered from injury during the winter period, missing every game between December 11th to March 2nd, returning to action during Pompey’s 3-1 loss to Middlesbrough.
Former Pompey goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown has also completed a move to Elland Road after the stopper impressed during a trial on their Cornwall training camp.
Ashdown was sadly released by the Blues in the summer. Out of contract, Pompey could not afford to offer him a new contract, whilst Pompey boss Michael Appleton was keen on finding two young goalkeepers to battle it out for the number one spot.
Jamie’s wife Zoe confirmed the announcement on Twitter and thanked the Pompey fans for their support.
“Very excited to announce Jamie is joining Leeds United. Looking forward to a big change after eight wonderful years at Pompey.
“Jamie asked me to thank you all for the kind well-wishing messages, he loved being at Pompey and hopes the club survives for the fantastic fans.”
Jamie has been a great servant of the club, making 123 appearances in all competitions during his eight year stay and we wish him all the best for the future.
Another player to join the former Pompey duo at Elland Road is Rodolph Austin who joins from Norwegian side SK Brann. Although you would usually think this has nothing to do with Pompey – it may well do!
It has been well documented over the last few weeks that SK Brann are very keen in taking Pompey’s Erik Huseklepp back to Norway and re-sign the forward. The Norwegian club were originally asking for sponsorship from fans to assist in affording his transfer, but after selling Austin, and rumours circulating that the Viking has already agreed personal terms, Huseklepp’s move back to Norway could come sooner rather than later!
Who’s left now to hold the fort till the boys brigade come to the rescue?. There can’t be even enough players to field a 5 a-side team at the moment. Come on ‘Trust’ do something like get Ryde FC to change their name to Rydeapompey. For Gods sake somebody out there help – And as for Peter ‘grease my palm’ Storrie and ‘Harry ‘Cant spell,cant add, cant read’ Redcrap you are the ones who engineered this financial mess. Hope Harry goes back to bournemouth and ruins them next – Sorry Cherries – nobody could be that dumb to employ him again.
Posted by les5tar | July 24, 2012, 07:30As a loyal Leeds United fan of some 40 years plus, I sincerely hope Pompey remains as a football club, for the fans sake if nothing else. We have suffered over the last 10 years or so as much as anybody and more than most. Hopefully we have now come through the dark days to better times ahead. I had never seen our fans as united as we were when we began life in League One on minus 15 points. The club as a whole was galvanized and united as never before by a sense of injustice. As a result, we won our first 7 matches in a row to wipe out the points deduction. What has this got to do with Pompey you may ask? The point of all this is that although Leeds United has undoubtedly signed players from Pompey for our benefit (signing Austin from Brann may also help your situation with getting Huseklepp off the payroll), there does appear to be some sort of karma at play here in us indirectly helping another troubled club to hopefully survive. If the Pompey fans stick together as we did, you will come through these dark days and I wish you all the best. As football fans we have our differences but fundamentally we have the same thing in common and that is the loyal and unconditional support we give to our respective clubs. Owners, managers and players are transient and are with a club for a relatively short period . However, The fans are the one constant that binds the whole thing together. I just hope the guys we have taken off your hands are good enough to help us on our journey back to the top. Good luck for next season and hopefully see you back in the Premiership one day!
Posted by Captain_Peacock | July 24, 2012, 07:50Great words of support their Captain Peacock. Good luck for the new season!
Posted by Pompey Pages | July 24, 2012, 08:13yes , bang on. Being a leeds fan has’nt been easy over the years. As the song says We’ve been through it all together. I hope the Pompey fans stay strong and eventually get a good result. Best of luck folks !
Posted by oldcomrade | July 24, 2012, 09:29Now this is how football fans should interact. Sure, support your own teams, but also support your fellow fan and the competition in general. Great words from Captain Peacock here, such a refreshing change from the bile delivered by those very close to the west. Rivalry is one thing, but the continued tirade of non-sensical abuse in its various forms is another thing entirely and is ridiculous quite frankly. Kudos to our friends from Leeds here.
Posted by PompeyFan Canada | July 27, 2012, 16:42