Reading FC

Little joins Portsmouth

June 20, 2008

Glen Little has turned down a new contract with Reading to join Portsmouth on a one-year deal.

Little made just two appearances for Royals as a substitute last season due to a troublesome Achilles injury as the club suffered relegation from the Premier League.

Manager Steve Coppell had been keen to retain the services of the 32-year-old winger, who was also a target for Championship club Coventry City.

But Little rejected the club’s offer of a new contract and has agreed terms on a switch to join Portsmouth, who as FA Cup winners will be competing in the UEFA Cup next season.

Reading director of football Nick Hammond told the club’s official website: “We offered Glen a new contract, but it appears that the lure of the Premier League and European football proved too strong.”

Little spent four seasons at Madejski Stadium, joining in 2004 on a free transfer from Burnley.

He played a crucial role in Royals’ promotion push during the 2005/06 season, scoring five goals in 35 league appearances.

And he impressed during Reading’s first year in the Premier League, winning praise for his trickery down the right flank and for his crossing ability.

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Most recent user comments 9 of 9

Glen says in todays Post Reading have the HUMP [god he is talking like Redknap already].what does he expect after the way he repaid us ,now it seems he is Nicky Shorey s agent .He is no longer a Reading player so why dont he just go and mind his own buisiness .

grumpywilliam, reading
27/06/2008 at 17:52

Anybody with an ounce of common sense would have done what Glen has..

He's served the Royals terrificely and turned down better offers this season as he intended to stay, but his contract was up and thats fair game! - we moan when footballers break them (look at Ronaldo!)

But Pompey come along with guaranteed Euro football, a stable team on and off the pitch.

At 32 its his last chance to play in Europe!! How can you begrudge him that??

Beef, Bracknell
23/06/2008 at 13:03

You can't knock Little! He's 32 and has just been offered the BEST possible ending to his career....European football and a possible top-5 finish in the world's best league, with a class manager and recognised Internationals surrounding him.

This is nothing to do with greed...it's simply every footballer's dream. Good on him!

All we can do is thank Little for some awesome displays in a Royals shirt and now let him show others exactly how good a player we helped him develop in to.

Josh, Woodley
23/06/2008 at 10:45

greed overrides loyalty!!!

GIBROYAL, Gibraltar
22/06/2008 at 18:18

Very disappointed...just goes to show there is no loyalty in football...footballers are more interested in money!!! greed is overrides loyalty!!!

GIBROYAL, Gibraltar
22/06/2008 at 18:17

Little is doing the right thing i reckon. 32 last years of playing top flight football, good on him.

I live overseas and the people who have come out of the wood work supporting Reading when they were in the premier leauge was unreal. Now they have gone down, they can not understand why they have to sell the better players to survie. They honestly think the owner is a real show pony. Well let us ask how much did he make from the two years when Reading were playing premier football. They certainly did not invest in some good quality players to stay up. Or even to give them a good run at anything for the second season.Coppell is a good manager, every club he has been at has been the same situation more or less make do with what you have got. Well it is time for him to have a fare bit of money and let him go for it. The only thing is stopping him, is an owner being a little bit to tight fisted. Well that is my time on the soap box over.

Expom, Christchurch New Zealand
22/06/2008 at 01:06

I am disappointed that Glen Little has decided to repay Reading's investment in him when he was injured last season by leaving! Footballers and commitment typically don't go in the same sentence. It is even more annoying that we don't get a fee for him. Having said that he is injury prone and I would like to see someone like James Henry given the opportunity to shine in the first team.