Sky Sports understands Portsmouth have secured the signature of Hampton & Richmond striker Dan Thompson.
Striker inks two-and-a-half-year deal at Fratton Park
Sky Sports understands Portsmouth have secured the signature of Hampton & Richmond striker Dan Thompson.
Thompson is believed to have agreed a two-and-half-year deal at Fratton Park after Pompey won the race for the teenager.
The highly-rated forward had attracted interest from several clubs, including Premier League quartet Liverpool, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City, but Portsmouth managed to lure him to the South Coast.
The 17-year-old impressed Michael Appleton during a trial and he is expected to link up with the club's academy but will initially be loaned out to play for Blue Square South side Havant & Waterlooville FC.
However, the transfer has left a sour taste with Hampton & Richmond chairman Steve McPherson who is "disappointed" with the conduct of Portsmouth.
While acknowledging Pompey did not have to offer any funds for Thompson's registration, the non-leaguers had been led to believe the Championship side would make a payment to Hampton & Richmond in respect of their development of the youngster.
Portsmouth have since said they will make no such payment prompting McPherson to say: "To receive the treatment we have had from Portsmouth FC and others associated with Dan is an absolute disgrace.
"The FA protects league clubs but there is little protection for the likes of Hampton & Richmond Borough FC when ensuring a fair deal for the club, for the players we have developed from a young age.
"This will also have an effect on our policy for allowing players to go on trial with professional clubs - in future we will look to protect our own interests first.
"I really believe that the FA and the Premier League need to look at the double standards in place with regards to these situations and work with non-league clubs such as ourselves to resolve them."
