Lee Brown admits Portsmouth debt after securing his Fratton future

The left-back has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal to extend his stay at Fratton Park, after arriving from Bristol Rovers two years ago.

Brown will be the senior choice in the left-back position, with Kenny Jackett looking for an emerging loan talent to compete with the 30-year-old for a starting spot.

News of Pompey’s vice-captain remaining at PO4 didn’t go down with a section of fans who’ve been critical of Brown, although he’s made it clear it’s not an issue which concerns him.

Talks with the former QPR trainee over a new contract dragged on throughout the season, before an agreement was struck ahead of the implementation of the third-tier wage cap.

Now Brown has made it clear he does feel he has a debt to the people at Fratton Park who’ve shown faith in him.

He said: ‘There was a bit of toing and froing and uncertainty about what I was doing and what the club was doing.

‘Look, it’s done now and that’s all behind us.

‘I’ve decided to stay and the club have decided to keep me, so I’m delighted to be here. Two years as well - there must’ve been a salary cap coming in!

‘I’m delighted and do I need to repay them for giving me a new deal? Of course I do.

‘I’ve been around long enough to know I’ve got to perform and produce some performances to give them something back. I’m fully aware of that.’

Brown explained how remaining at Pompey for the next two years is a stay which ticks plenty of boxes for him - both professionally and personally.

But being comfortable in his surroundings means little without delivering success.

He added: ‘It does work for me. It all works for me.

‘But we want to get promoted and do well. There’d be nothing worse than signing these contracts if we aren’t going to be successful.

‘I want to be successful - and hopefully this year we can be.’

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