Former Fulham and Watford man leaves Chelsea role for new challenge

Jon Harley has left his role as a coach in Chelsea’s academy to become the new assistant manager at Portsmouth. The 43-year-old has departed Stamford Bridge to work with John Mousinho at Fratton Park.

Pompey have been in the hunt for a new number two and have found their man now. He had a spell with the Hampshire outfit near the end of his playing career.

Harley, who is from Maidstone, played for Fulham from 2001 to 2004 after joining the Whites as a youngster from Chelsea. He went on to play 36 times for the Cottagers in all competitions whilst they were in the Premier League.

The former full-back left Craven Cottage for spells up north with Sheffield United and Burnley before heading back down south to join Watford in 2008. He spent two years with the Hornets in the Championship and made 83 appearances altogether, chipping in with a couple of goals.

Harley hung up his boots in 2013 and has since delved into the coaching world at Chelsea. He is now delighted to be back at Portsmouth and has told their club website: “It’s really exciting to be back at Pompey again and I’m so excited to get started in my new role. I look back on my time as a player here and when Fratton Park is rocking, it’s such a great place to be.

“I can still remember my debut against Bournemouth and walking out before the game to see a real togetherness among the crowd. Everyone knew it was an incredibly difficult situation at the time, but the place was bouncing and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. I had goosebumps.”