Most Shrimpers would love to see him wear the Blue of Southend again but recent comments seem to confirm if he goes back anywhere it will be Blue allright, but the hoops of Reading.
Harding joined the Tractor Boys in 2006 from Leeds United where he made 79 appearances.
After joining the Blues on August 7 2008 in a six-month laon deal, scoring a classic goal direct from a free-kick against his old club Leeds, the classy defender went on another loan deal to Reading as cover for Chris Armstrong.
Armstrong then helped Harding by suffering a knee injury allowing Dan to play in the final five games of the season, including the play-off semi-final defeats by Burnley.
So what happen's next?
Keane at last made his move Wednesday telling Harding the news of his release.
There is some state of confusion at the Berkshire club with Coppell's resignation, would the new manager want him, whoever that is, at the last count they've had over 100 applications?
Reading director of football Nick Hammond said: "I spoke with Dan before the end of the season. He did ever so well when he played and we'll see how things go."
Harding has admitted it's doubtful he would turn down Reading if asked: "I knew I wouldn't get straight in the team because Chrissy was playing fantastic. It took a bit of luck to get in there and that was unfortunate for him. I was thankful to play and hopefully I have showed what I can do. I would love to stay here, but I need to speak to the people upstairs and my family and see what happens."
As well as being a division lower we can't be expected to compete on wages something Tilly has confirmed to the Echo: "I don't think we would be able to afford his wages to be honest. Dan is a very good player and he did a great job when he was with us on loan last year. I would very much like to have him in our team for next season but it's unlikely because he's out of our price range."
Any chances then?
The new Reading boss is not interested, we can offer regular first team football, he has good memories of his stay here before where he was treated well, he can be convinced League One is for a season only, Uncle Ron is true to his word if T&B want him, all the clubs with bigger transfer budgets don't need a left back, we pray to the right God.
Don't know what we'll worried about, done deal.
Meanwhile, centre-back Sam Sodje, who was on loan at Leeds, will be told by Reading he is free to look for another club.
Popular with the Yorkshire faithful it could mean that Leeds boss Simon Grayson will not be looking to Paul Clarke to add to his squad, then again with their dosh they could sign both!
However, before we sign Clarkey's name on the contract for him the Yorkshire Evening Post did come up with the following.
The defender, who turns 30 next week, did not make a single appearance for Reading during the 2008-09 season, though his involvement was curtailed by the serious knee operation he underwent last year.
Leeds nursed him successfully through the last month and a half of the term, and he completed 90 minutes of Thursday's semi-final second leg despite suffering shoulder and Achilles injuries during the first leg at Millwall five days earlier.
Grayson has a large pool of centre-backs already at Elland Road, a group headed by Naylor but also including Rui Marques, Lubomir Michalik and Paul Huntington.
Marques was Naylor's established partner before Sodje's arrival from Reading relegated him to the bench, but injury restricted Huntington to seven appearances last season and Michalik's most recent start came in January.
Leeds are also still being reported as showing an interest in other central defenders, one being the Hibernian player-of-the-year Rob Jones.
Though West Brom are favourites, Baggies boss Tony Mowbray signed Jones from Grimsby when Hibs manager, however Leeds is closer to his home town of Stockton-on-Tees, but it's doubtful that they could match the fee and wages that Mowbray could command.
Jones' agent, Garl Gill, said: "A lot of clubs have shown an interest - Championship teams and the better ones from League One are keen. Rob has never hidden the fact he's interested in going back to England. There is potential there this summer for Rob to move on, but the fact he has a year left on his contract will have to be reflected in his fee."
It's still odds on he'll go, but maybe not to Boycott country.
Finally, with a club that seems to have been tied in some alternative universe to Southend all season, Federici has a good chance to be Reading's No.1 keeper next term, Hal Robson-Kanu.
Still a young bloke, new contract or not, would they let him go for a season? Do we need him anyway, if Moose can be convinced he's got a great left foot that he should use more often?
Blimey, it's not even the end of May yet, bring on that beach!
The Harding Files
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Andrew Harding | |
| Date of birth | 23 December 1983 (1983-12-23) | |
| Place of birth | Gloucester, England | |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | |
| Playing position | Defender | |
| Youth career | ||
| 1999-2002 | Brighton & Hove Albion | |
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2002-2005 2005-2006 2006-2009 2008-2009 2009 | Brighton & Hove Albion Leeds United Ipswich Town → Southend United (loan) → Reading (loan) | 67 (1) 20 (0) 73 (1) 19 (1) 3 (0) |
| National team | ||
| England U21 | ||
1 Senior club appearances and goals | ||