Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown has revealed it was tough for him to leave the club.
Pompey keeper looks forward to new challenge in his career
Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown has revealed it was tough for him to leave the club but has wished them every success in the future.
Pompey boss Michael Appleton has decided to release the club's longest serving player after eight years at Fratton Park.
The financial realities at the club mean Appleton will now have to find players to fit their new wage structure, but Ashdown admits he will always have a soft spot for Portsmouth.
"In terms of myself, the manager has made his position clear," he told
The News.
Youngsters
"He has to bring in youngsters who are on a lot less money. There are no hard feelings at all on my part.
"He needs two keepers fighting for one spot. I couldn't do that on my own. I can see why he would want to do it with younger players.
"I was kind of ready to go when Millwall came in and I wasn't playing last season. I got my head around that but Stephen went to West Ham instead in the end and I ended up playing again.
"That was where I wanted to be and still want to be but things move on."
Hungry
Ashdown made over 100 appearances for Portsmouth during his time at the club but acknowledges his career is now entering a crucial phase.
He added: "In football, players and managers move on. It's part of the career. I'm still hungry, though.
"I had eight years at Pompey and to have another couple would have been fantastic.
"But it's a make or break stage of my career. I just have to move on and get on with things."
