A former Pompey player who played under Danny Cowley at two clubs is now a free agent.
Former Pompey striker John Akinde’s contract was not renewed, leaving him without a club heading into the summer.
Colchester United, led by former Blues manager Danny Cowley, informed Akinde and three other players that their contracts would not be extended. This season, Akinde appeared in 30 games in all competitions, scoring three goals and assisting three times to help them stay in League Two.
Head coach Cowley explained the decision and expressed gratitude to those departing, saying: “Can we take this time to thank all of the players for their hard work and commitment since Nicky and I joined the club. We’ve spent the last week talking with the players, reflecting on the season and planning for the future.
“On behalf of the club, we attempted to make some difficult judgements about players who we value as individuals. I’m sure you’ll join us in wishing them continued success in their careers.
The 34-year-old will not be a part of Cowley’s future plans, and he is now looking for the 16th club of his career. Akinde played for Pompey in 2012/13, signing a month-to-month contract while Guy Whittingham was in charge. Pompey finished 24th in League One that year, and Akinde left after 11 games without scoring.
After leaving Portsmouth, he moved down two divisions to play for Alfreton Town, where he scored 18 goals in 43 games. Akinde eventually signed for Barnet, where he guided the Bees gain promotion with 31 goals in 45 games. He also scored more than 20 goals in League Two for two consecutive seasons.
He worked under Cowley at Lincoln City, where he scored 17 goals in 2018/19 to assist the club win promotion. Cowley left Sincil Bank for Huddersfield Town in September, and Akinde fell out of favour with Michael Appleton before being sent to Gillingham. Akinde played for Priestfield for two seasons before moving on to Colchester, where his best performance was seven goals in 41 games in 2022/23.
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