Gareth Evans' heartfelt message to Portsmouth fans: It's been a perfect marriage, but it's the right time to go

But the huge Blues fans’ favourite admitted he felt the time was right to go, after completing a move to Bradford City on a two-year deal.

The move signals the end of a five-year stay at Fratton Park, which has taken in 218 appearances, League Two title victory and Wembley glory.

The 32-year-old also married his wife Hazel on the south coast and saw their son, Atlas, born here this year.

Evans explained he knew he was unlikely to feature under Kenny Jackett this season, and didn’t want his association with Pompey to end miserably.

But he feels he can reflect with pride on what he achieved at PO4, as one of the most popular players in recent memory.

Evans said: ‘I’ve got nothing but nice things to think about.

‘I’ve got so many good memories of my time on the south coast.

‘I’ve said it before, both from a professional and personal point of view, everything just came together perfectly at Portsmouth.

‘Obviously, there’s been down days, but the good days have far outweighed them.

‘I remember my first night at the Royal Beach Hotel, I was looking out at the sea and thinking “I’ll have a bit of this”.

‘But I would never have envisaged it turning out how it did, playing the games, scoring the goals and the trophies.

‘It’s been a perfect marriage really, just perfect. I’ve loved it.

‘Driving back up north last night I was very emotional thinking how much has gone into these last five years.

‘It’s been so emotional, but at the same time I knew it was the right time to leave.

‘I didn’t want my career at Portsmouth to just fizzle out into nothing, which, let’s be honest, it probably would’ve done.

‘I wouldn’t have played, so it was the right time to leave.

‘But I don’t look back in any way negatively at the football club, and I like to feel I represented the football club as well as I possibly can, on and off the pitch. It’s something I’m quite proud of.’

Since news broke of Evans’ impending exit, there’s been an outpouring of affection towards him from supporters thankful for his efforts in royal blue.

The man brought to Fratton Park by Paul Cook explained how the response, and knowing he’d made such an impact on supporters, had registered with him deeply.

Evans added: ‘I’ve found it all a touch emotional.

‘I’ve never been one to be public on social media or to go scouring the internet for comments.

‘But I opened a public Instagram account three or four weeks ago, just because I thought “why not?”.

‘It was nothing to do with the leaving the club, but it’s coincided with the time I’m leaving.

‘It means I’ve had messages and comments I wouldn’t have otherwise got.

‘There are too many messages to read, but I will do in good time.

‘But the messages I have read have genuinely made me emotional.

‘It’s so touching and nice that fans have respected me as much as I’ve respected them.

‘There’s people saying thank you for your services, but other people are telling me about special moments with their family or I scored when their child was born.

‘There’s a load of them and it’s touching to know.

‘So I’m leaving Portsmouth a touch emotional but also very proud of what I’ve done here, and I’m really happy with what I’ve achieved and the memories we’ve created.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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