Shaun Derry had agreed personal terms with the London club and Pompey had agreed a fee but with Derry due to complete a medical today to finalise the move, Steve Bruce stepped in and his clinched a deal that will once again earn Pompey £400,000 but will earn Derry more money and the chance to prove himself in the Premiership.
There is no doubting that Derry can suceed in the top league and it is just unfortuanate that circumstances dictated that the midfielder should do it with someone else and not Pompey.