Portsmouth favourite addresses Fratton future as Blues braced for transfer interest from Wrexham & Co
The Northern Ireland international discusses his future ahead of anticipated summer transfer interest
Terry Devlin shrugged off the likelihood of summer transfer interest and insisted: I’ll be back at Pompey for pre-season.
The popular Northern Ireland international swept the board in the end-of-season awards, capturing all 17 trophies up for grabs to cap a remarkable personal campaign.
Without a league start until November, the 22-year-old would subsequently establish himself at right-back and one of John Mousinho’s star performers as they finished 18th.
Such was Devlin’s form, he also attracted a £2m bid from big-spending Wrexham during the January transfer window, which was rejected by Pompey.
Now, with the Red Dragons failing to reach the Championship play-offs, there is a realistic possibility they will return for Devlin this summer, along with other interested parties.
But the former Glentoran man, who missed the last three games through a hamstring injury, is focused on resting and spending time with his family during pre-season.
‘If there’s interest, that is for the club to deal with’
He told The News: ‘Speculation comes with football, doesn't it. For anyone who does decent and has a decent season, there is always speculation.
‘But, for me, it’s about switching off, resting and recovering over the summer, getting ready for next season.
‘I still want to improve, I have to look at the season as a whole and look at things I haven’t done so well and things I can improve on.
‘If there is interest, that’s for the club to deal with. I will be spending time with my family for a bit, resting and having a good summer with them.
‘I remember being interviewed straight after the transfer window had closed and getting across my full focus remains on Pompey - and that has never changed.
‘It’s a great place and I love it here, it’s a great club. I am contracted here and this is where I will be in pre-season.
‘Obviously we have to push up the league next season, we need to get this club where it belongs, and that's fighting at the top of the Championship.’
Among Devlin’s many accolades was the Players’ Player of the Season, as decided by his Blues team-mates.
His choice went to Regan Poole, who incidentally finished behind him in The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season. Incredibly, the pair polled 93 per cent of that vote.
Poole, who had voted for Devlin, totalled 43 appearances, including 40 Championship starts, as he enjoyed an impressive injury-free campaign after previous availability problems.
‘He’s had a phenomenal season’
Devlin added: ‘I voted for Regan.
‘I get on really well with him. We obviously play beside each other, while outside of football we are really good friends. If he had won, I would have been really proud of him.
‘He’s had a phenomenal season, especially coming back from his ACL injury, which is a really, really tough one to return from. He has done really well this season.’