"I'm shocked" - Reaction given as Portsmouth FC player set for Fratton Park exit | OneFootball

FLW’s Portsmouth fan pundit has commented on Matt Ritchie departing Fratton Park.

Portsmouth are set to sanction the departure of experienced winger Matt Ritchie this summer.

Pompey have had a rather slow start to the transfer window, recruiting only one player so far in the form of Adrian Segecic from Sydney FC.

With Segecic adding to the numerous options Portsmouth have out wide, a departure in that area was always likely, and it's seemingly came in the form of Ritchie.

According to a report from The News, the former Newcastle United man is close to finalising his departure from Portsmouth for the second time in his career, just a season after making a return to Fratton Park.

It has been revealed that the 35-year-old has been told by boss John Mousinho that he cannot be guaranteed game-time in the Championship for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

That conversation has led to Ritchie not joining his team-mates out in Slovakia for Portsmouth's pre-season training camp. Ritchie will instead remain in England and pursue a new club that can assure him of regular minutes.

With this news in mind, FLW’s Portsmouth fan pundit has weighed in with his thoughts over the latest developments.

Shock felt by impending Matt Ritchie, Portsmouth exit

Speaking to Football League World, Portsmouth fan pundit Miltos Ioannidis has described Matt Ritchie’s impending departure a shock, but can understand why the club has taken such a difficult decision.

Miltos said: “I'm shocked, just like every other Pompey fan, I think, that heard this news, although I think a lot of people anticipated that something was going on with Matt Ritchie behind the scenes, since he never flew over with the other lads in Slovakia.

“On a personal level, Matt Ritchie was a catalytic member of last season’s team. He was vital to what we managed to do, his presence, not only on the field but off it as well. He was a vocal presence, a leading figure, someone you could look up to with all his experience.

“He played a very big role in making sure the club remained in the Championship.

"Now if you zoom out a little bit, the retrospective of it all, is this perhaps the correct decision for the long-term vision of the club? Maybe I would say so, because, first and foremost, Matt Ritchie is leaving out of his own will. He wants regular football, something that John Mousinho, in my personal opinion, rightfully so, cannot guarantee him here. He cannot say to Ritchie, ‘Hey, you’re going to play at least 40 games next season’, and I don’t think he should do that to be honest.

“I also think it’s fair enough that Matt Ritchie has been open and honest that he wants to play, but even being an ex-Premier League footballer, all the experience and credentials in the world, he’s 36 in September.

"He still potentially has one or two more good years in him of playing football, given what we saw last season where he was really good, but he’s getting older and older. Now we need at least two attacking players that are younger and are ready to hit the ground running.

“This is a tough decision to make, but football is a cruel sport, a tough business, and it’s probably the right move for all parties.

“it’s obviously sad to see Matt Ritchie go. He had some incredible moments last year, his passion will never be forgotten. He’s a Pompey boy through and through anyway.

“I wish him all the best, but we move, I’ve got every single possible faith in what John Mousinho and Richard Hughes are doing. We’ve seen that already with players such as Christian Saydee and Riley Towler that have recently left, victims of our own success really.

“Matt Ritchie could potentially fall into the same category. We want to move forward as a club.

"His contribution will always be remembered but we’ve got to look forward as well, and I think it’s best for all parties that this is happening now rather than later.”

Matt Ritchie departure is the right move from Portsmouth

Recent arrival Adrian Segecic has bolstered options on the right flank for Pompey, who now have him, Josh Murphy, Paddy Lane and Harvey Blair competing for a starting spot.

This has undoubtedly affected the amount of minutes Ritchie would get if he remained at Portsmouth, and at 36, you can understand his desire to keep regularly playing before he hangs up his boots.

His exit will be a surprise given how prominent he was for the club last term, but the aim of attracting younger and hungrier players who want to prove themselves can only stand Pompey in good stead for the upcoming campaign.

There’s no reason why Ritchie can’t find another Championship move based off his previous showings, but Portsmouth have seemingly thought long and hard about this decision, believing it is in the best interests of the club.