Midfielder Joe Morrell has admitted that had a difficult decision to make when the Blues came in for him over the weekend with his switch from Luton to Portsmouth, which was ultimately confirmed on Monday, well progressed at that stage.

“I’m 24 years old and not somebody at the end of his career,” the Ipswich-born Wales international told the Portsmouth News.

“I’ve got a lot to give and this move was about what’s best for me as a footballer and not necessarily my bank account or other factors.

“I did have to make a phone call on Sunday to him [Pompey manager Danny Cowley] to say I am probably going to another club after agreeing a deal here, which was never the intention.

“There was another football club which had given me a good offer on Saturday night, something at that time which I was thinking seriously about, and his reaction made me even more motivated to come to Pompey.

“He obviously sounded gutted, but he wasn’t annoyed or frustrated. He handled that brilliantly and, in the end, that played a big part in me coming here.

“You weigh everything up and try to block out the noise and go with your heart. From a financial perspective, this was not the best move for me, but this is a move for my development as a footballer.

“Is a bit more money going to make a difference when you feel a part of something, when you feel at home at a massive football club in front of fantastic fans?

“It was a difficult decision. I don’t want to disrespect any other football club because the club I was in talks with is a fantastic club too — and a big club.

“But there’s a bit of guilt that it ended up being a little more difficult than it was going to be on Friday and Saturday.”

Regarding linking up with Cowley, who had been his manager during a loan spell at Lincoln, he added: “You weigh up a lot of options when you sign for a football club and definitely the manager is a massive part.

“I have spoken to him so much over the summer. He has been pestering me, put it that way!

“He’s always someone I have kept in regular contact with. I played for him at Lincoln, not for a long period of time, but have had a good relationship with him since.

“It’s his drive and his determination to succeed. I also feel we share the same values as people, regardless of football, and that is a massive factor in me coming here.”

Photo: Action Images

TheJam added 19:59 - Aug 12 Didn't want the "tabby" Tag
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Bert added 20:06 - Aug 12 Good to hear that a footballer is not just interested in money. The lad deserves credit for thinking things through and acting with respect to both Pompey and Ipswich.
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Suffolkboy added 20:07 - Aug 12 This all rings of truth,integrity and mature consideration ! Obviously intelligent and thoughtful, intent on leading a principled life ,he's made and implemented the right choice for him . Very good luck– make it pay off ,enjoy your football ,repay your instincts ! COYB
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Keaneish added 20:07 - Aug 12 What about his ridiculous voice though, was that a factor too?
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ArnieM added 20:08 - Aug 12 Tbh I respect him immensely now. Unlike so many young footballers who chase the ££ signs , this young msn hasn't. He has shown discretion, loyalty and was prepared to honour his original decision to join another club. I don't blame Town for trying to get him sndcwgat that could Town do but offer more money ! So all credit to you son for having the moral fibre to stand by your initial decision. It's a refreshing change in the money driven game we are in now. Good luck to you in your career at Pompey ( but not against us!)

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dirtydingusmagee added 20:44 - Aug 12 fair due's to him .
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Churchman added 21:08 - Aug 12 A considered response from him. I wish him well. Cowley though: a different story. His constant moaning about us is pretty pathetic. He needs to have a word with himself
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runaround added 21:14 - Aug 12 Good luck to him. Just not in the games against us!
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pennblue added 22:02 - Aug 12 No doubt it is a tricky situation when a club comes in late and a manager you have a relationship with has been speaking to you all summer. I feel for the lad as he can probably tell Ipswich are going places. But Pompey is a great football club too and hopefully he will do well there and get his pay day next move.
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bluewarrior added 22:41 - Aug 12 I don't see it like the other comments at all. He was obviously attracted to the money on offer at Ipswich otherwise he'd never have been tempted over and however much I'm biased, to think Pompey even remotely have the standing or ambition of Ipswich is a joke. Something clearly happened in the discussions with town and it won't have been the lack of vision for the future so we can only conclude that he didn't like the idea of potentially playing second fiddle to say Harper or Evans. I get it, the lad wants to play football and credit to him but to dress it up as something different to get the fans onside is disingenuous. The best thing in these situations is to shut it and let the football do the talking. He can't be any great shakes in the first place - being sold off by bloody Luton is hardly something to crow about.

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midastouch added 22:42 - Aug 12 Morrel can't have any morals choosing Pompey over us! ;-) All joking aside, I'm really not worried about all this recent Ipswich and Pompey nonsense. If he chose them over us because he wants to be more certain of regular starts then fair play to him. Some footballers put money over a regular starting place. I like a player who first and foremost wants to play rather than warming the bench. Football careers are too short to be spent warming benches for extended periods of time. Surely football is best enjoyed out on the pitch, not being stuck in the dugout, no matter how handsomely paid. For example, Richard Wright wasted how many years of his career as 2nd and 3rd choice at teams such as West Ham and Man City. You never get those years back again. Yes he must have earned a lot but he never fulfilled the early promise he showed for us and I bet he must have some regrets about spending so many years just watching from the sidelines. I actually don't think he ever played a competitive game for Man City in around 4 years!

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Monkey_Blue added 01:12 - Aug 13 No idea why people are slagging Cowley off. Firstly neither he or Morrelll have named us as the other club, it's media outlets such as TWTDs that have. Cowley only really named us when it came to Jacobs but that was made public by both clubs and the player in terms of interest, offers etc. I think we've been throwing our weight around and at some point you are going to come across as a bit of a bully if that's the case. We've not broken any rules but long term it's not great for other clubs or players to see ITFC as lacking integrity. Be competitive, chase your ambitions, but do the right thing.

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ArnieM added 06:19 - Aug 13 How was offering a player more money than a competitor club for that players signature lacking in integrity ? It's business !
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ernie added 07:56 - Aug 13 Morrell seems like a principled and moral man based on this whole saga, as does Cowley who come across as a decent human being. Not sure why he is getting so much stick from the thin-skinned fans on here; perhaps because Cook does not shine so much in the same light.
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braveblue added 08:00 - Aug 13 He wanted to be certain of a place in the team. We don't want that attitude.
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Facefacts added 09:27 - Aug 13 We need to lose the reputation that to join ITFC is the end of your career. People hate us because we are outspending everyone else but on the pitch we are not tough enough yet to cope with all opponents giving 200% and getting the referee on their side early in the game. That is our problem to solve.
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ImAbeliever added 09:28 - Aug 13 Respect!
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