The Nugent double-edged sword

Again, with the 'rumours' persistent that Blackpool want him, Dave Nugent has told The News today that he WILL stay with Pompey until the end of the season, at least...

He says that he is 'settled' so wants to stay here with talks still ongoing over a new contract: 'I'm still negotiating my contract, so hopefully that can get sorted. We'll see what happens.

'I'm committed to Portsmouth until the end of the season, definitely. I want to be here, I want to get as far as I can.'

Whilst I do not think any of us can fault his work rate and endeavour I think if everyone is honest his ability does not match up to his pay packet, then again the guy is not along in this - and I am not knocking him for it mind.

He feels that he is finally getting that chance to show his worth and that is seeing him enjoy himself for the first time in all the years he has been here - he also insists that the signing of a new contract cannot be written off, in fact he thinks it 'will' get sorted: 'it's a bit of a fresh start for me. I've not really played for Portsmouth over the last three years.

'This is my fourth season now and I've been here for three of them. Yet this is the only real season I have been playing.

'We are just negotiating a contract at the moment.

'I am here until the end of the season so will just take my time. We don't want to rush into it and I'm sure it will get sorted.'

Whatever Nugent may say, and whatever anyone else might say, my thoughts remain the same that I would be amazed if we saw him playing for Pompey again next season.

Although to be honest, and I did not think that I would say this, I would actually quite like this to be the case - simple truth is though IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! I would not say out of greed, but down to the fact that he will be free to join whoever he wants, so Nugent will move on when his contract ends.

In order to sign a new contract he would have to take a radical pay cut, and I cannot see him doing this - I would think as much as 50% would not to be trimmed off what he is paid, and that is almost certainly not going to be acceptable to him, or his agent...

We are at the double-edged sword crossroad with Nugent, and in all honesty I am not convinced that whatever option is taken is the right one, and will 'appease' people.

Quite clearly he is another, on his current wage, that we cannot afford to keep - yet he is another, really, that we cannot afford to lose!

At the same time we cannot afford to not sell him, even if it is only for a 'measly' £500,000 - what we have to remember is we would also save the wages, so it could actually amount to as much a £1m when you take that into account. Also by selling now we could look to insert a 'sell on clause' into his contract that would, for once, allow us to benefit!

As far as the owners are concerned they would be viewed solely as 'asset stripping' even if, as much as I guess I would not want him to go at this juncture in all honesty, this was actually a good thing for Portsmouth Football Club.

Should an offer in excess of £1m come in for The Nuge before the transfer deadline then I cannot see how we could refuse?

Although that does not mean that the player will accept the move and that is the thing that will 'probably' see it a certainty that he will still be here come February 1st, I would not be putting too much money on him still being here come August 1st though...

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