Source: Daily_Mail
Tommy Smith joins Pompey in £1.8m move after turning down Reading
Tommy Smith has snubbed a move to Reading and joined Portsmouth in a £1.8million deal from Watford after passing a medical at Fratton Park.[LNB]The 29-year-old had been in line to join the Royals but has put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal at Pompey after making more than 170 appearances for Watford.[LNB]Smith becomes Portsmouth manager Paul Hart's fifth signing of the summer but the first to demand a fee.[LNB] Make your mind up time: Smith has to choose between Pompey and Reading[LNB]Aaron Mokoena, Steve Finnan and Antti Niemi all joined Pompey onfree transfers, while Frederic Piquionne and Anthony Vanden Borre bothmoved on loan.[LNB]'I spoke to Paul Hart and it sounded brilliant,' Smith told the club's official website.[LNB]'Everything down here is certainly what I was looking for and I'm sure I've made the right decision.[LNB]Gets his man: Pompey boss Paul Hart[LNB]'The supporters here are well renowned for being fantastic, loyaland very, very noisy. When I've played here the atmosphere's beenelectric and it'll be nice to be on the right side of them this time.'[LNB]Smith's decision to switch to the South Coast will come as a bitterblow to Reading manager Brendan Rodgers' promotion aspirations at theMadejski Stadium.[LNB]Ex- Watford boss Rodgers has been chasing the player all summer andalso had a £1.8m bid accepted by the Hornets. The Royals previouslyfailed with offers of £800,000, £1.2m and £1.6m.[LNB]Smith was keen to be reunited with his former manager but a move to the Barclays Premier League appears to have been to big for the player to turn down.[LNB]Pompey boss Hart said: 'I've liked Tommy for a long time. He's clever, infectious, enthusiastic and a hard worker.[LNB]'He can play as a centre forward, behind the centre-forward or outwide, so he covers a lot of positions. He's going to be a great assetto us.'[LNB] Sulaiman Al Fahim claims to have taken over full control of Premier League strugglers Portsmouth Aston Villa confirm talks over £7m Stephen Warnock as manager Martin O'Neill remains tight-lipped over Sylvain Distin Portsmouth 4 Hereford 1: Pompey put Premier League problems behind them with four goal thrashing PORTSMOUTH FC
