The list of former Pompey players to join Leeds United continues to grow as former Blues defender Martin Cranie has joined the Yorkshire club on trial.
Cranie will join Jason Pearce, Jamie Ashdown, David Norris, Luke Varney and Michael Brown at Elland Road as Neil Warnock puts together his squad for the new Championship season.
The 25-year-old made just five appearances in all competitions (two in the league) for the Pompey first team, before being loaned out to Charlton and QPR. Pompey signed the defender from our South-Coast rivals on a free transfer back in 2007 before moving on to Coventry for an undisclosed fee when administration loomed.
Cranie will join the Leeds squad this week for their pre-season tour of Norway, whilst Norris will make his Leeds debut during the tour – Varney scoring in his debut last week.
We can only thank Leeds for helping Pompey by signing Pearce, Norris and Varney directly from the club, whilst Ashdown joined on a free transfer, the moves assisting Pompey’s bid to come out of administration as they look to fight the battle against liquidation.
There were also rumours at the start of the season that Pompey were keen on signing striker Billy Paynter, and with Leeds keen to re-sign Jermaine Beckford, the move could edge closer, but it appears Blackpool have jumped ahead of the queue and offered Paynter a one-week trial at Bloomfield Road.
Play Up Pompey!
From A Leeds Fan,
I feel for you and the rest of the Pompy fans as it very nearly Happened to us
Good Luck in League 1 hopefully you will be back in the championship soon (at the expense of Shef Wed)
BLUFC
Posted by Ben | August 1, 2012, 13:29Another Leeds Fan here, good luck guys, you are going through what we went through and its a devastating blow. Throw in Bates and Wise and you know what we went (are still) going through. However I’m sure you will come out of it in the end. It’s the fans that keep clubs together remember that
Posted by Johnny Servo | August 1, 2012, 13:44As above guys,sorry t see whats happend down there,get straight back up
Posted by Neil smith | August 1, 2012, 13:54im a leeds fan, just wanted to say i hope pompy get through there current financial turmoil and eventually i expect them to be pushing for the prem again as i hope we do.
Posted by evo | August 1, 2012, 14:09Thanks for all the support and feedback from Leeds fans, it’s nice to have fellow football fans on our side for once, and especially coming from fans of a club that have gone through it all before.
Posted by Pompey Pages | August 1, 2012, 14:28good luck pompey sure u will be back where u belong soon. from joe leeds
Posted by joe leeds | August 1, 2012, 16:45Good luck pompey, hope you guys get to stabalise yourselves and come back up..and i sure hope the players we have bought off you guys are decent enough to push for the playoffs…lufc4life
Posted by lufc4life | August 1, 2012, 16:54You’ll be back Pompy, soon I hope…
Posted by Super Leeds | August 1, 2012, 17:28Leeds fan here ‘I come in peace !’
Just wanted to let you know nobody wants Pompey to go bust, apart from Southampton maybe ! We were the trendsetters when it came to spending beyond our means and I wouldn’t wish it anyone (except Man Utd lol) it may be a long wait but you’ll be back – you can’t stop a team like Portsmouth fighting their way back eventually – thoughts and fingers crossed frim up north for avoiding liquidation – whats your famous top hat geezer gonna do !?? Legend ! All the best and hope its play up pompey soon rather than pay up pompey (not meant to take the piss, apologies if taken that way)
Guest
Posted by Martin | August 1, 2012, 23:41Good luck pompey hope you pull through it!
What are your views on:
Pearce
Norris
Varney
Just hope Bates isn’t selling leeds to get your club on the cheap, hope its just me and my far fetched mind I wouldn’t wish that on anyone
Posted by sean h | August 2, 2012, 05:58You’ve got some great passionate and hard working players there. Norris is a hard working goalscoring midfielder, Varney is great, with good movement and a lot of pace if you can keep him fit, and Pearce is your classic never say die defender!
Posted by Ben Hardinge (Editor) | August 2, 2012, 06:03