Sheffield United winger Ricky Holmes: I'll always regret leaving Portsmouth, I loved the place, but Andy Awford had changed

Yet Ricky Holmes harbours one life regret – leaving Pompey.

The winger made 62 appearances for the League Two Blues, scoring twice, having arrived on a free transfer from Barnet in the summer of 2013.

He departed 18 months later following a bitter falling out with boss Andy Awford, a clash which condemned the reigning The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season to the bomb squad.

Holmes’ career, however, escalated beyond his own expectations.

Having won the League Two title with Northampton in 2014-15, he saw service through the leagues at Charlton and then Sheffield United.

However, the manner of his Pompey exit still irritates – particularly as former suitor Paul Cook would arrive as manager six months after he departed.

Holmes told The News said: ‘One of my biggest regrets is being at Pompey and not being successful. I would have loved it, loved it.

‘The promotion season looked unbelievable. You kind of watch and I knew a few of the boys, such as Conor Chaplin and Jack Whatmough, and I thought “Why am I not there now?”.

‘At Northampton we had been promoted the previous season, which was great, but the city of Portsmouth must have been ridiculous for a week afterwards.

‘They live and breathe football, you don’t see any other football shirt in the park, there’s no other team down there.

‘Mind you, when you aren’t doing well, it’s horrible. I had my young daughter down some weekends and you’d go to the park and not be able to get away from it.

‘Everyone was asking what was going on – “Why are we so rubbish, we are the biggest club in League Two”. I would tell them: “Being the biggest club in League Two doesn’t get you promotion when you haven’t got a decent team”.

‘On the reverse side, you go to the shop after winning two on the spin and you’d get an ego boost. We all love an ego boost, don’t we.

‘In that first season we only came good at the end, thanks to Andy Awford. Then you realise “I’m at a proper club” because you live like a king.

‘I was thinking “We’re 13th in League Two here, why are they cheering?”. We were going to the pub on a Saturday evening and they were treating us like heroes, but that’s the kind of club it is.

‘I had turned down Paul Cook at Chesterfield to come to Pompey. Chesterfield were offering better money – and they won League Two that first season.

‘I’m so glad I joined Pompey, though, what a club. I loved living down there, it’s a fantastic place, and in the end I was gutted to leave.

‘I don’t regret going to Northampton because my own career moved up a lot. I went there with a bit of grit and determination – and obviously wanted to stick two fingers up at Andy Awford.’

Holmes was a pivotal figure in caretaker Awford’s team which secured Pompey’s Football League status in the 2013-14 campaign.

The Blues were one place above the relegation zone when Richie Barker was sacked in March 2014, with the SOS sent out to the club’s Academy head.

Following a remarkable five successive wins, Pompey stayed up with two matches remaining, earning Awford the job on a full-time basis, an appointment widely applauded.

Yet for Holmes, the relationship soured – and, following a brief Northampton loan spell, he linked up with Chris Wilder’s side permanently in January 2015.

He added: ‘Awford’s a lovely bloke, don’t get me wrong, we had a great relationship when he first came in as caretaker and I was doing well under him, then it went to pot.

‘I’ve got a big personality and he didn’t really like anyone who had an opinion. I say it how it is, I don’t really care, and it gets me in trouble at times, but has got me to where I am.

‘In the summer of 2014, I couldn’t wait to get back, I thought Andy Awford was the answer with his signings, we had clicked, we had a way of playing, for the first time we had an identity in those last seven games.

‘We weren’t pretty, but it was effective, we were playing in the right areas, he had given us the boost we wanted and deserves so much credit.

‘You think about it, he had no preparation, he’d been thrown into it, and that worked for him. It was off the cuff - but right. He had watched our full season and knew the answer, getting it spot on.

‘We returned for pre-season, Awford was now manager and had all summer to think about what he was going to do. I thought we had nailed it, we were getting promoted – but he was a different person.

‘He came in with a different demeanour, a different attitude. He was manager of a massive club and it had gone to his head. All I can put it down to is the pressure.

‘I have never gone on a fans’ forum, but I remember him mentioning forums to us and I thinking “You can’t be on there, you’re the gaffer, you’re the boss, don’t worry about that”. I think it all got to him.

‘Awford was out of his depth, I don’t mind saying that, I don't care if he reads it, he was out of his depth.

‘In the end, I wanted him to get sacked so I wouldn’t have to leave Pompey, but he hung on and hung on and hung on. Eventually I thought “This geezer is staying put, I had better go elsewhere for my career”.

‘I was training with three others with the bomb squad. I wasn’t a bad egg, I wanted to play. From player of the year to bomb squad – I had to get out.

‘I was at home two weeks for Christmas, I was told not to come in. Then I had the opportunity to go to Northampton.

‘Andy Awford is a lovely bloke, I have respect for him. If he rang I would pick up the phone, of course I would, I have no animosity towards him.

‘I am gutted I had to leave such a good club – because the next season Paul Cook went in.’

TOMORROW: Ricky Holmes on why he had to be split from best mate Jed Wallace for the sake of both their careers.

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