Pompey's Primus hangs up boots
Linvoy Primus, 36, has retired from professional football
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By Adam Leveridge. |  |
Tuesday, 08, Dec 2009 05:17
By Alistair Potter.
Veteran Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus has announced his decision to retire from football at the age of 36 due to ongoing injury problems.
Primus made more than 200 appearances for Pompey since joining from Reading on a free transfer in 2000, helping the club to promotion to the Premier League and their consequent establishment as a top-flight team.
The defender was advised to end his playing career by surgeons after surgery on his knee, which has been causing him fitness issues for several months.
And he admitted to Portsmouth's official TV channel that he had been forced to consider his long-term health over considerations for what could remain of his football career.
"I had a knee operation a couple of months ago and it was made clear to me that if I did try to continue I would do long-term damage," he admitted.
"I would rather have a good knee for the rest of my life than to try to play on and make the knee worse.
"I've got to think of the long-term rather than the short-term."
Chief executive Peter Storrie confirmed the club would maintain a relationship with Primus - a much-loved playing figure on the terraces - and the veteran would take on an "ambassadorial role" beyond the end of this season.
"Linvoy is Mr Portsmouth and we're sad that he will not be donning a blue shirt again," Storrie said.
"He has been a great servant to the club and is loved by everyone here and in the city.
"Linvoy still has so much to give to the club so we're delighted that he is going to be staying with us beyond this season."
In a playing career spanning 17 years, Primus played for Barnet and Charlton Athletic as well as Pompey and Reading. He returned to the Latics - his first professional club - last season for a brief loan spell, making ten appearances.