Harley returns to Pompey
Jon Harley, who was at Burnley from 2005 to 2008, has left his academy role at Chelsea to become the new assistant head coach with League One club Portsmouth.
A former Portsmouth player, Harley is the new number two following the recent appointment of head coach John Mousinho and Pompey sporting director Richard Hughes said of the appointment of Harley: “We spoke to quite a few people and both John and I were impressed with Jon. His face would light up whenever he talked about Pompey and you can tell he has an affinity with the club.”
Harley, who played over 120 games for the Clarets having signed from Sheffield United, ended his league playing career at Fratton Park before dropping into non-league football with Maidstone, his home town club, and it was then that he also became a coach at Chelsea. He might not wish to recall his final league game though, it was a 5-0 defeat for Portsmouth at Swindon on New Year’s Day 2013.”
Having spent almost a decade working in the Chelsea academy, he said of a return to Portsmouth: “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.”
Of his time at Chelsea, Harley said: “I went in as an under-15s coach and then have spent the past few years with the under-18s and then the under-21s. My position was all about developing players and we saw guys like Mason Mount and Reece James come through.
“That’s the kind of thing I’m looking to do here. I want to help improve footballers. John and I have also crossed paths recently and he’s a great man. I was in a really good place at Chelsea, but when the opportunity to come here arose, it was something I couldn’t turn down.”
Harley’s Burnley debut came in a 2-2 home draw against Derby but his time at the Turf ended as did his playing career at Portsmouth with a 5-0 defeat, ours at Crystal Palace in May 2008.
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