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Emotion tugs at Flahavan - from the BBC Website www.bbc.co.uk
Southend goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan wants to fill the Portsmouth goalkeeping jersey left by his late elder brother Aaron.
Flahavan has rejected Southend's offer of a three-year contract and is holding out hopes of an emotional switch to Pompey.
The 23-year-old would love to succeed his brother who was killed in a car crash in August. Pompey retired Aaron Flahavan's number one jersey for the current season as a tribute, but Darryl's heart is set on reviving and filling it. Flahavan said: "It would be a great move for me to try and fill my brother's jersey. 'I'm sure if he's looking down he'd like me to be in the Pompey goal."
Southampton-born Flahavan was a trainee along the coast but following his release by his home-town club he joined non-league Woking. While at Woking he trained two days a week at Fratton Park but it was Southend who offered him a route back into League football in October 2000. This season Flahavan has kept 11 clean sheets for the Shrimpers but will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Flahavan told the Portsmouth News: "I know I could well play for Pompey. "I'm a confident person but it all depends on what they want. "I don't know what the situation is at the club. "I'm rated as one of the best keepers in the lower leagues and the next step for me is First Division football. "I've been at a Premiership club and I have ambitions to play at a higher level again. 'I have spoken to the manager at Southend and told him I want to play at a higher standard. "I'm not saying I won't sign a contract. We'll see what happens. "But it would be hard to turn anything down from Portsmouth. If the opportunity came I would love to play for them and continue where my brother left off. "I speak to Alan Knight and I've known Dave Beasant since I was 16 or 17. I still see a couple of the Portsmouth players about. It's a great club and I'd love to be part of it."
Pompey's goalkeeping situation is far from settled with record £1.8m signing Yoshi Kawaguchi not even being selected for the bench. Veteran Dave Beasant is manager Graham Rix's first choice with Chris Tardif on the bench.
Southend goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan wants to fill the Portsmouth goalkeeping jersey left by his late elder brother Aaron.
Flahavan has rejected Southend's offer of a three-year contract and is holding out hopes of an emotional switch to Pompey.
The 23-year-old would love to succeed his brother who was killed in a car crash in August. Pompey retired Aaron Flahavan's number one jersey for the current season as a tribute, but Darryl's heart is set on reviving and filling it. Flahavan said: "It would be a great move for me to try and fill my brother's jersey. 'I'm sure if he's looking down he'd like me to be in the Pompey goal."
Southampton-born Flahavan was a trainee along the coast but following his release by his home-town club he joined non-league Woking. While at Woking he trained two days a week at Fratton Park but it was Southend who offered him a route back into League football in October 2000. This season Flahavan has kept 11 clean sheets for the Shrimpers but will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Flahavan told the Portsmouth News: "I know I could well play for Pompey. "I'm a confident person but it all depends on what they want. "I don't know what the situation is at the club. "I'm rated as one of the best keepers in the lower leagues and the next step for me is First Division football. "I've been at a Premiership club and I have ambitions to play at a higher level again. 'I have spoken to the manager at Southend and told him I want to play at a higher standard. "I'm not saying I won't sign a contract. We'll see what happens. "But it would be hard to turn anything down from Portsmouth. If the opportunity came I would love to play for them and continue where my brother left off. "I speak to Alan Knight and I've known Dave Beasant since I was 16 or 17. I still see a couple of the Portsmouth players about. It's a great club and I'd love to be part of it."
Pompey's goalkeeping situation is far from settled with record £1.8m signing Yoshi Kawaguchi not even being selected for the bench. Veteran Dave Beasant is manager Graham Rix's first choice with Chris Tardif on the bench.
Steve Connolly
www.thelittlegazette.com