We'll miss Christian Burgess, he became Portsmouth's most important player - Ryan Williams

The departing central defender earned Ryan Williams’ vote as Pompey’s Player of the Season.

Yet following the Blues’ play-off elimination at Oxford United, Burgess’ time at Fratton Park has ended on a galling low.

After 210 appearances and 12 goals, the popular 28-year-old will now link-up with Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

He has been an impressive Pompey performer since arriving in June 2015, while away from the pitch contributed magnificently to community projects.

And Williams is sad to see his team-mate leave.

He told The News: ‘Burge definitely got my vote as player of the season.

‘For the first few games of the campaign he will himself admit that he wasn’t great, yet came back from that - and great style too.

‘He became probably the most important player in that team and that showed with how the fans voted for him.

‘Hands down, Burge has been the most consistent player throughout that period. He was great for us.

‘He’s solid, he always steps out with the ball, he’s really comfortable. Watching him, he looks like it is easy for him and that’s how good centre-halves play. They make the game look easy.

‘It’s a shame he couldn’t even have a farewell in front of the fans at Fratton Park, they love him. He has been so good, not only for the club but for the community.

‘Burge has been a big part of this club for the last five years, but he wants to go and do something different. I don’t think anyone in Portsmouth would begrudge that.

‘He wants to go and try things, a new culture, a new language, which is awesome and suits him down to the ground.’

Before the season started, Burgess was arguably fourth-choice central defender after the recruitment of Paul Downing and Sean Raggett.

In addition, Tom Naylor dropped back into the role ahead of him during the pre-season.

Yet Burgess roared back to emphatically claim The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season.

Williams added: ‘Sometimes that happens at the start of a season.

‘I have been in that position before when you are not in the team for the first game and you end up playing more than others.

‘That’s why you just have to keep on going and not get your head stuck into a bad place when you aren’t playing.

‘Hopefully you come back out on top – which Burge did in that situation.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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