Hayden Mullins has confessed he joined Pompey due to a lack of first team football at West Ham.
Pompey new boy wants to play regular first team football
Portsmouth's new signing Hayden Mullins has confessed he joined the club due to a lack of first team football at West Ham.
The midfielder has signed a three-and-a-half year deal at Fratton Park after Pompey and West Ham agreed on an undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old started just five times for the Hammers in the Premier League all season with Scott Parker and young Jack Collison preferred in centre-midfield.
Mullins will go straight into the squad to face Aston Villa at home on Tuesday as Tony Adams' men look to banish the memories of Saturday's cup shock against Swansea.
"I found out about it on Sunday afternoon and made my decision there and then," the former Crystal Palace man said.
"After speaking to the manager it seemed like the right move. It is a good club, I have seen the squad and there are some very good players here and it is going in the right direction.
"It was hard to leave West Ham when it has been so long and you become part of the club but it is a new chapter and I am looking forward to it.
Change
"I have the chance for a change in my career and it is a new challenge. I have only started five games this season and it was a little frustrating being on the bench a lot of the time but I want to get on the pitch and let my performances speak for themselves.
"I spoke to the manager and he said he was happy for me to go and play some football and I appreciate his honesty.
"It is a case of being wanted again and playing more games than I have at West Ham."
Despite not featuring under Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola Mullins believes he is the right man to take the club forward.
"I thought he was brilliant as a man and as a coach and he has brought a good blend of young and more experienced players to the team," he added.
"You see things in the press but he was always quick to tell us the problems are not as bad as what is written.
"At the end of the day your job is to win games of football and players do not think too much of what is going on behind the scenes."
