(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)
Portsmouth‘s new captain Brett Pitman has revealed Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was the person who convinced him a move to Fratton Park was the right one.
Pitman, 29, joined the South Coast club last month for an undisclosed fee from Championship side Ipswich, after scoring four goals in a frustrating 2016/17 campaign under Mick McCarthy at Portman Road.
The Jersey-born striker was eager to join Kenny Jackett‘s side, but spoke to Cherries boss Howe, who played for Pompey during his injury-blighted career, before signing a three-year contract.
“His experience and knowledge of the fan base and what it means to play for Portsmouth were great,” said Pitman.
“It wasn’t anything I didn’t already know, but to hear it from someone who’s experienced it made a big impact.”
Pitman has a wealth of EFL experience, most notably helping Bournemouth win the Championship in 2015, so it is no surprise Jackett has handed him the armband as Pompey plot a second successive promotion.
With 14,500 season-ticket holders already confirmed, Pitman is honoured to be the one tasked with the captaincy, and told BBC South Today: “The day after I arrived he [Jackett] told me I would be captain. It’s a great honour.
“We’ve sold 14,500 season tickets and, for a League One club, that’s huge.
“I’m looking forward to the new challenge of being captain. It’s only something I’ve done once or twice towards the end of games, but never from the start.”
