Han har en fortid som Pompey-spiller, men har de siste ti årene jobbet med Chelseas unggutter. Nå returnerer 43-åringen til Fratton Park for å bli John Mousinhos assistent.
NYHETER: Det har vært spenning knyttet til hvem Pompey ville ansette som John Mousinhos assistent. Nå er det klart at det blir Jon Harley.
43-åringen kommer fra Chelsea hvor han i over ti år har jobbet med klubbens unggutter. Han begynte som akademitrener kort tid etter at han forlot Pompey i 2013. Han hadde da spilt 26 kamper for Pompey i 2012/13-sesongen. En periode i Pompey preget av økonomisk krise.
Harley ble kjent med Mousinho i forbindelse med at de begge tok trenerkurs. Nå skal de sammen prøve å få Pompey opp i Championship.
SE OGSÅ: Jon Harleys spillerprofil
Jon Harley sine kommentarer
«It’s really exciting to be back at Pompey again and I’m so excited to get started in my new role. I look back on my time as a player here and when Fratton Park is rocking, it’s such a great place to be.
I can still remember my debut against Bournemouth and walking out before the game to see a real togetherness among the crowd. Everyone knew it was an incredibly difficult situation at the time, but the place was bouncing and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. I had goosebumps. So I want to be a part in getting the ground bouncing again and seeing the fans off their seats. That’s what we’re all looking for.
I think I left Pompey on the Saturday and then started working there on the Monday. That was 10 years and one month ago. I went in as an under-15s coach and then have spent the past few years with the under-18s and then the under-21s.
My position was all about developing players and we saw guys like Mason Mount and Reece James come through. That’s the kind of thing I’m looking to do here – I want to help improve footballers. John and I have also crossed paths recently and he’s great man. I was in a really good place at Chelsea, but when the opportunity to come here arose, it was something I couldn’t turn down.”
Sportsdirektør Richard Hughes sine kommentarer
«We spoke to quite a few people and both John and I were really impressed with Jon. His face would light up whenever he talked about Pompey and you can tell he has an affinity for this football club.
Coupled with his coaching background – where he’s spent 10 years with Chelsea and worked with some of the best talents in the country – he’s going to add value. We feel that he can provide excellent support for John and so we’re delighted to have him here. He’ll be a great asset for the club.”
Hovedtrener John Mousinhos kommentarer
«Jon had a fantastic playing career and competed at the top, while he’s had 10 years working with Chelsea at the highest level of development football. He was the outstanding candidate during the recruitment process and knowing him from my time on the Pro Licence, he’s a great guy who’s going to fit in with what we’re trying to do here.
Jon is an excellent coach and Chelsea have a great track record of bringing through players to feature in their first team or have good careers elsewhere – he’s had a big role in that. That was a big part in coming here because we also want to bring young players in here and help to develop them.
We wanted to make sure that we got the right person and it takes time to go through the list, but we were thorough and robust because this a crucial appointment.”
