Cole: Pompey going forward

New Portsmouth signing Andy Cole is confident he has joined a club on the up.

Andy Cole is confident he has joined a club on the up, after signing for Portsmouth from Manchester City.

The veteran striker secured a two-year deal at Fratton Park prior to the transfer deadline, with Pompey paying an initial £500,000.

City boss Stuart Pearce is upset with the ex-England international, claiming Cole threatened to retire if he was not allowed to move to the South Coast.

Cole is settling in with his new team-mates and believes Portsmouth have the credentials to challenge for Europe, something he suggests City lack.

"I'm coming to a club going upwards," Cole told The News. "I think you could say the tide is changing between Portsmouth and Manchester City.

"When a big investor comes in and puts a bit of money in, it gives a club the opportunity to push on to the next stage.

"Hopefully we can get ourselves into the top 10 this season and then the season after we can look towards Europe.

"I think that will be exciting with all the other changes that are planned. Maybe I wouldn't have been here a few years ago, but neither would David James or Sol Campbell.

"Portsmouth want to go places. The top 10 is where we want to be and not fighting it out with teams who do not have as much money.

"If we can get ourselves into a position where we are fighting for the Uefa Cup that would be good. I want to achieve something here."

Meanwhile, Cole's agents Proactive Sports Management have refuted Pearce's comments that the former Manchester United hit-man would have retired, if he had not been granted a move to Portsmouth.

A spokesman for the company said: "It never was the case that either Andy or us on his behalf threatened that he would retire.

"Manchester City had no offer on the table until very late in the 11th hour.

"When they did produce an offer it came nowhere near to matching that made by Portsmouth."