Jamie Ashdown: My Portsmouth trial was a waste of time, Paul Cook wouldn't even look at me

Jamie Ashdown has revealed how he abandoned his dream of a Pompey return – after ignored by Paul Cook during a trial.
Paul Cook invited Jamie Ashdown for a Pompey trial in July 2016, but the keeper felt he wasn't wanted. Picture: Ian Walton/Getty ImagesPaul Cook invited Jamie Ashdown for a Pompey trial in July 2016, but the keeper felt he wasn't wanted. Picture: Ian Walton/Getty Images
Paul Cook invited Jamie Ashdown for a Pompey trial in July 2016, but the keeper felt he wasn't wanted. Picture: Ian Walton/Getty Images

Ashdown was a free agent when he secured himself a Pompey trial in July 2016, following the return of goalkeeping coach John Keeley to Fratton Park.

Paul Cook was seeking an experienced keeper, having used five during the 2015-16 campaign, his first at the Blues helm.

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However, Ashdown opted to call time on the arrangement after becoming disillusioned with the Pompey’s manager’s apparent lack of interest in his presence.

And the Blues boss would later sign David Forde on loan from Millwall and free agent Liam O’Brien.

Ashdown told The News: ‘That was a waste of time. Paul Cook didn’t even look at me, he wasn’t bothered. He just got me in to shut me up, I think.

‘I kept getting onto John Keeley to get me back: “I need to be here, I’m not going to sign for anyone else, it’s either this or nothing”.

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‘I went in and trained for about two days and wasn’t even looked at. I said “Look, not for me, thank you very much” and left.

‘There was not even a discussion of “What would you be looking at? For how long?”. It was just get me in to train and then get me out as quickly as you.

‘After that, I retired on my own terms, I’d just had enough. The politics side of things was difficult to get around. I wanted to carry on, but couldn’t be doing with it.

‘But that’s football – and it all goes by in a flash.’

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