Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton says he expects Town targets Joel Ward (pictured) and Jason Pearce to leave the now relegated crisis club during the summer. The Blues have been chasing the duo since January with Ward holding talks with manager Paul Jewell in March, while Pearce, Pompey’s Player of the Year, has recently also been linked with Leeds.

Appleton said: “I think Jason is certainly one of the assets we have got on the field of play and I will be very surprised if he is here next season.

“He and Joel Ward have attracted offers from the Championship this season so you would think they’ll go. You wouldn’t have to be a brain surgeon to work that one out.”

The Blues had offers accepted for Ward and keeper Stephen Henderson on the final day of the January transfer window, while bids from Town and others for Pearce were rebuffed.

The Ward and Henderson deals broke down over personal terms with the former Irish U21 international keeper subsequently joining West Ham on loan with a view to a permanent deal.

The Blues renewed their interest in defender or midfielder Ward prior to March’s loan deadline when Jewell said he could look at signing him again in the summer.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

suffolkpoker added 10:43 - Apr 23 we have been flirting with this pair for ages. i would prefer pearce but i think we will end up with ward, which would be a good addition to our squad
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bbkingsumday added 10:46 - Apr 23 Come on, let's get both of them sorted early
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Sindre94 added 10:47 - Apr 23 I want both.
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wychyblue added 11:04 - Apr 23 According to the papers this morning Pearce has aged terms with Warnock at Leeds .
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JewellintheTown added 11:28 - Apr 23 Keep it cool PJ, keep it cool ...
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Chicago_Blue added 11:55 - Apr 23 No fussed about either.
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Help added 12:14 - Apr 23 Its up to the players not us and neither will end up here.
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brian_a_mul added 12:17 - Apr 23 Pearce is going to Leeds. Which means Darren O' Dea wont be getting a contract offer at Elland Road & his contract is up at Celtic. I think O Dea is decent and can still develop in to a good Championship player. Dont be surprised if O Dea makes his way to Portman Road once again.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 12:38 - Apr 23 I hope not Brian, I don't rate O' Dea at all.
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itfc1981 added 12:48 - Apr 23 We will miss out on Pearce and get Ward who seems poor to me. Anyone is better the ALB.
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Mark added 13:12 - Apr 23 I hope this isn't start of other clubs beating us to the players we want. Come on ITFC, let's have some early signings this summer!
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braintree_blue10 added 13:24 - Apr 23 itfc1981 - Didn't realise ALB played at centre half or right back ???
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Sindre94 added 13:35 - Apr 23 Odea? No thanks!!
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StowTractorBoy added 13:36 - Apr 23 While you are down there PJ get Ward who can play both right back and right midfield and we could do worse than get goalkeeper Ashdown as he has looked good since he has been in the team. As ITFC 1981 states anyone is better than ALB. Not fussed about Pearce, made another huge boo boo Saturday but the Pompey fans must rate him to get player of the season. Pearce off to Leeds if reports are correct but O'Dea - for heavens sake no - we have better than him now.

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algarvefan added 14:29 - Apr 23 If Pearce or Ward wanted to sign for us they would have done it in January, face facts we cannot and will not be able to compete on the wages front. Pompey failed to heed that warning and look where it got them. Football has to change and even if we don't always get the players we want it has to be in the long term interest of the club to be financially stable. Academy players will have to be our future, that's where I would rather see investment going!

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radiogaga added 15:10 - Apr 23 Get big George Elokobi! No secret that he is surplus to requirements at Wolves and has also been a proven Championship performer with Col U, Wolves and also Forest this season (with whom his arrival has coincided with Forest's leaky defence suddenly being solid again)
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radiogaga added 15:10 - Apr 23 Get big George Elokobi! No secret that he is surplus to requirements at Wolves and has also been a proven Championship performer with Col U, Wolves and also Forest this season (with whom his arrival has coincided with Forest's leaky defence suddenly being solid again)
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Ipswich24 added 15:14 - Apr 23 Would really like us to sign Pearce at a good age with years ahead of him. I have seen him make a few errors lately but he is a better option than Delaney. We also need a centre half with pace who doesnt get done by one long ball over the top.
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yorksblue added 17:01 - Apr 23 Warnock's getting rid of most of his squad and starting from scratch. Difference is, he'll start it next Monday. Jewell and Clegg will fanny around all summer and probably get someone in the 1st week of November (at a push).
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Steelmonkey added 20:24 - Apr 23 I just hope that we do not have to put up with speculative transfer talk on this site from now to the start of the new season. Unless it happens don't report it - PLEASE. By the way is it true that David Norris is on his way back to PR.
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tractorboy2434 added 20:49 - Apr 23 Is anybody else heartily sick of hearing about these pair (like me) its all we've heard since last summer, face facts they did'nt want to come here then and they still won't, forget it and move on, or is that too much like hard work for our management team, it seems we have a very short list of targets, in fact those are probably the only two names on it, get off your backsides and find some players for god's sake. PS They don't all have to be pensioners

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JayT added 22:22 - Apr 23 I think Cropper will be leaving us shortly... saying how his life has been turned upside down, and Lavery said that he'll be a big loss to 'that club', presuming he means us..
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TractorBoy666 added 22:22 - Apr 23 Are these two even that good?! I agree tractorboy2434, i don't see the fascination in these two and if they are such great defenders, why are Pompey relegated! Lets move on now...please?
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bluearmy4life added 23:14 - Apr 23 Need both players. No messing about in the summer accepted anymore. Time for Evans to show ambition rather than talking the talk.
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Keaneish added 02:17 - Apr 24 Pearce is the type of defender that is the difference between us challenging and being mid-table next season. Go large on this one Evans and Jewell and prevent Warnock from getting a steal! Everyone knows Warnock is wily in the transfer market so we're going to have to work extra hard at this one and needs to start happening now!
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