Spiss nummer to i boks

Pompey har sikret seg en spiss til. Colby Bishop er mannen.

NYHETER: Det gikk ikke lange tiden fra Joe Pigott signerte for Pompey (på lån fra Ipswich) før Pompey sikret seg en spiss nummer to. Dermed ser det langt lysere ut med tanke på seriestart neste lørdag.

Inn kommer Colby Bishop for rundt 500.000 pund. Han har signert en treårskontrakt med Pompey, og Pompey har også sikret seg opsjon på et fjerde år. For bare ett år siden sa Accrington Stanley nei til bud på Bishop fra Peterborough på 1,2 millioner pund. Nå hadde bare Bishop ett år igjen av kontrakten og han ville videre.

Pompey var enige med både Accrington Stanley og Bishop selv om kontrakt, men avtalen holdt likevel på å gå i vaske n da Championship-klubben Blackpool matchet Pompeys bud. Bishop dro til Blackpool for å snakke med dem, og Danny Cowley regnet Bishop som tapt for Pompey. I Blackpool ville han få spille en divisjon høyere, trolig få høyere lønn og slippe å flytte langt fra sin familie.

Det ble derimot ikke noen enighet mellom Bishop og Blackpool. Hva det strandet på har ikke kommet ut, men det endte i alle fall med at Bishop dro ned til Fratton Park og skrev under for Pompey. Det ryktes at Preston også prøvde å sikre seg Bishop i siste liten – uten hell.

SE OGSÅ: Colby Bishops spillerprofil

 

Danny Cowleys kommentarer

«It wasn’t straightforward – these things never are – and we had to be pretty resilient and determined. We had an offer accepted for Colby and there was also Championship interest, while he wants to play at the highest level possible. So we were a bit nervous, but we spoke with him and told him to take his time and make an intelligent decision. Ultimately, he’s chosen to come here – and that’s brilliant.

He wants to play in the Championship and so do we, so I think our ambitions are aligned in that sense.

My chief scouts in the centre-forward department are always my centre-halves, so we spoke with Clark Robertson, Sean Raggett and Connor Ogilvie. I asked them for the toughest forward they’ve played against in this division and they all said Colby, which says a lot about his attributes.

He’s an unselfish link player, which is something that we really like and we relish the opportunity to play into and up to him. We also like to get into wide areas and cross the ball, and in the box he carries a real threat – both from open play and set-pieces.

It’s a really exciting signing for Portsmouth Football Club and we’ve had to be patient, but I think that Colby could see that he’s really wanted here.”

 

Colby Bishops kommentarer

«I’ve played here before and the atmosphere, along with the size of Pompey, is amazing. It’s mesmerizing when you’re in the away team, so I can only imagine what it will be like wearing the Pompey colours. I can’t wait.

I’m over the moon. The atmosphere of the ground – even when people aren’t here – is great and it was the same walking around town this morning. It’s so crazy being here and I’m excited. I spoke with the gaffer a lot, but this club speaks for itself really.

I’ve got nothing but kind words to say about Accrington, who have been excellent to me. I’m hoping that the relationship I had with the fans there can be built here. The club holds the same ambition as I have – to push up the leagues – so it’s a great fit and hopefully we can do that.

I used to work as a PE teacher and play part-time. It was busy and made me realise just what you can do. Since being in professional football again, I’ve used that time and it’s paid off for me. I’m hoping to get even stronger coming to a club like this.

I’m used to playing in this league and with the talent I’ll have around me here, I know I’ll get chances and want to put them away. Whenever I put the shirt on I’ll work as hard as I can, as well as hopefully scoring goals and helping my team-mates.”

Colby Bishop i aksjon mot Coventry 23/7.