Ex-Manchester United striker Andy Cole: I should never have joined Portsmouth - and Harry Redknapp mugged me off

The former England international moved to Fratton Park from Manchester City in the summer of 2006, signing a two-year deal.

However, Cole had to settle for a bit-part role at the Blues as he scored five times in 27 appearances.

The striker was loaned to Birmingham towards the end of the 2006-07 campaign before he departed for Sunderland the following summer.

Speaking to the Youtube programme Chris McHardy, In Conversation With, Cole felt he was told a ‘few porkies’ when he was signed by Harry Redknapp – and was mugged off by the Pompey boss.

Cole said: ‘My aim was to retire by the time i was 35. I didn't want to end up doing what I did.

‘If things had worked out better for at Blackburn, I wouldn’t have gone to Fulham – I’d have finished up at Blackburn and just continued to enjoy my life.

‘Ultimately, I was trying find a home. I ended up going to Portsmouth and I should never have gone to Portsmouth.

‘Harry told me a few porkies. I played a few games there and then turned round to myself and said to myself: “Harry, why did you bring me here?” I mean he treated me like a 21-year-old".

‘I was coming to the end of my career and I’m at Portsmouth. I ended up leaving Man City and he’s brought me to Portsmouth to mug me off.

‘I didn’t come to Portsmouth for a retirement home. I’ve come here because you’ve said to me: “Right, I’m going to give you a two year contract and you’re going to play games” and I said yeah, brilliant.

‘If Man City had given me another year contract to make it a two year contract I’d have never left Man City.

‘They were like we're not sure of your age, you’ve got an injury. Well, if you had rehabbed me properly I’d have come back from that injury so there would have been no problem.

‘I ended up going to Portsmouth because I got a two year contract, but in the end I’ve turned round said: “This is nonsense, I should never have left”.’