Conor Chaplin explains Portsmouth exit and makes Kenny Jackett admission ahead of Fratton return with Barnsley

In an interview with Barnsley’s official website ahead of the Tykes’ visit to the south coast in the FA Cup, the former Blues academy youngster said he didn’t want to leave in the summer of 2018.

However, Chaplin felt it was the best thing for his long-term career, after failing to convince Jackett he should be a first-team regular.

The forward featured 32 times and scored five goals for Pompey during the boss’ maiden season in charge at Fratton Park (2017-18).

But 19 of those appearances came as a substitute, with the Worthing-born ace starting 13 times as the Blues lined up in the manager’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.

The following season, the Fratton favourite failed to come off the bench for the season-opening win against Luton.

Meanwhile, he failed to make the match-day squad for the following League One trip to Blackpool.

A cameo appearance off the bench for the Carabao Cup defeat at the hands of Wimbledon marked his first appearance of the 2018-19 season.

It also signified his last outing for the club, with a move to Coventry completed ahead of transfer deadline day.

Jackett told The News on Thursday that he didn’t want the 22-year-old to leave.

But Chaplin, who scored 25 goals in 122 appearances for Pompey, has revealed he had to put his career first after failing to fit into Jackett’s system.

The forward, who is Barnsley’s top scorer this season with 10 goals following a summer move from Coventry told the Tykes website: ‘The reason I left was because I wasn't getting enough starts.

‘I didn't want to leave in terms of leaving the club, leave my home. It's not something that I wanted, but I sort of put my career first.

‘It just wasn't the right manager at the right time for me I guess.

‘Things just weren't happening how I needed them to at that time.

‘I just felt I brought enough onto the pitch to warrant a proper run from the start but it wasn't to be.

‘The year we won the league (under Paul Cook) I was like 19 or whatever and started about 17 times so that's fine, but the next two seasons followed a similar pattern so I had a decision to make.

‘I came back for pre-season in the summer of 2018 and even before I knew of the interest from Barnsley and Coventry, I knew already I had to try and get out, for my career, I had to go and play games.

‘I wanted to get better and you've got to play regular football to do that, to develop.

‘Every player wants to play at the highest level and you can't have that optimistic mindset and be happy as a sub in League One.’

Despite leaving 17 months ago, Chaplin said he still refers to Pompey as ‘my club’.

He has been back to Fratton Park since, featuring for the Sky Blues in their 2-1 defeat at PO4 at the end of last season.

And as he prepares for his latest return, the in-form Oakwell ace said he was looking forward to being reunited once again with some familiar faces and friends.

He added: ‘Portsmouth is my club.

‘It's the club I supported, the club I was at since being six-years-old. So it's always going to be a part of me.

‘And I owe a lot to the club as well, because they gave me everything in terms of opportunities and right at the start of my career, the learning and developing as a player and a person.

‘So it's always going to be my club. And it's going to be so good to go back there.

‘There are a lot of familiar faces and my friends and family will be coming to the game. I'm excited for the weekend.’