Callum Lang lifts lid on Preston North End move - and makes Portsmouth admission after Fratton exit
Callum Lang departed Pompey on deadline day to make the switch to Preston North End.
Callum Lang has lifted the lid on what went on behind the scenes of his Pompey exit.
And the forward has stressed he still has ‘a lot of respect’ for the Blues despite bringing an end to his two-year Fratton Park stay.
After a failed attempt in the summer to land Lang, the Lilywhites reignited their interest in January before completing a deal on deadline day.
Having said his goodbyes to his former Blues team-mates at the club’s Hilsea training base last week, the ex-Wigan man has revealed he travelled up to Preston three days before the close of the window to finalise the move.
However, the ex-Fratton favourite admitted he thought he could return to the south coast on deadline day, with a deal hanging in the balance.
Callum Lang lifts lid on Pompey exit
Speaking in Saturday’s program at Deepdale, Lang has revealed what went on behind the scenes during his move and explained why now was the right time to leave Pompey.
He said: ‘I’m really excited to get going. I travelled up on Friday, it was looking like a deal was going to be done and then I thought I was probably heading back down to Portsmouth on deadline day. But now a deal’s done I’m happy.
‘I can’t wait to show all the fans and everyone at Preston what I can do because I believe I can be a real asset to this team and help them push forward.
‘It was definitely hard being away from the family. When I first moved down to Portsmouth I was just excited to join and enjoy my football. But the family side of it was definitely quite tough.
‘I’ve got a baby on the way in the summer and to be back closer to family is a real bonus. It’s a really good thing for me and my family.
‘That definitely gives me confidence as a player. I know the club has wanted me for some time; they've seen me fitting into their plans and being a big part of what the gaffer wants to do.’
Callum Lang makes Pompey admission after exit
Lang departs the Blues having been a popular figure with both fellow team-mates and supporters alike.
Although the forward missed Saturday’s contest due to injury, he was in attendance at Deepdale and admitted it would be a strange feeling seeing familiar faces before the game.
He added: ‘It’s going to be a strange feeling seeing all the lads who I’ve spent so much time with over the last few years and who I’ve had some good times with in football. It will be strange being in a different kit and seeing those lads.
‘But it’s a nice feeling to get this done. I’ve had some good memories at Portsmouth and I’ve got a lot of respect for the club. You spend every day with the lads in a dressing room day in, day out, you probably spend more time with them than you do with your own family!
‘If you’re with lads in the dressing room, they know you more than anyone vice versa. It will be a strange feeling to now be on the opposite.
‘But once you change clubs, my job is to do as much as possible for Preston and I’m really excited about that. I’m excited to work with the gaffer and as soon as I’m out on the pitch, friends or football clubs you’ve played for it doesn’t really matter. I need to focus on the job at hand.’