Landmark signing now seeking a new club
A player assured of his place in Pompey history is on the lookout for a new club following his release from Eastleigh.
Nigel Atangana is among 12 out-of-contract performers released by the National League club after finishing 13th.
Now aged 34, the midfielder has made 41 appearances this season, of which 31 were starts, but is not in the plans of boss Kelvin Davis.
It’s approaching a decade since Atangana joined Pompey from Havant & Waterlooville in a landmark transfer.
In June 2014, boss Andy Awford paid an undisclosed five-figure fee to capture the Frenchman, representing the first player purchase since coming out of administration 14 months earlier.
The fans saved their football club from liquidation at the High Court in April 2013, after joining forces with Portsmouth City Council and property developer Stuart Robinson to raise £3.12m.
Subsequently challenged to pay off loans and football creditors, it wasn’t until a year later before the Blues were in a position to buy players.
The historic signing was Atangana, who had shone with the Hawks, although the deal required approval from the Football League and PFA, who needed to remove existing transfer restrictions, a hangover from the club’s previous financial issues.
The powerful midfielder made his debut as a substitute at Exeter on the opening day of the 2014-15 season, which resulted in a 1-1 draw.
He netted a maiden Football League goal at Cheltenham in December 2014 and totalled 35 appearances in his first Fratton Park season as the Blues finished a disappointing 16th.
He was sold to Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee in January 2016.