Portsmouth will forever rue £1.5m transfer mistake - Birmingham City switch compounded his Fratton Park nightmare | OneFootball

Portsmouth's signing of Norwegian forward Erik Huseklepp from Italian side Bari turned out to be everything the opposite of a statement of intent

Portsmouth's signing of Norwegian forward Erik Huseklepp from Italian side Bari turned out to be everything the opposite of a statement of intent - as he was forced out the door after a promising start.

Huseklepp arrived with a somewhat solid reputation in 2011 - having scored twice in 14 Serie A appearances for Bari before their relegation - subsequent financial difficulties forced his move to England.

At 27, Huseklepp was entering his prime years and - on paper - was exactly the type of technical forward that Pompey hoped would lead their promotion push back to the Premier League, having splashed a reported £1.5m on the deal.

Huseklepp's dream move to England quickly became a nightmare

Initially, the signs were very promising - Huseklepp established himself very well, contributing to six goals in 27 Championship appearances. His pace and technicality set him apart in what was becoming an increasingly difficult season for the club - and the fans were loving him.

Portsmouth's mounting financial crisis would soon overshadow any on-field success, and Huseklepp found himself caught in the crossfire of the club's administrative chaos.

The breaking point came in February 2012 when Pompey entered administration for the second time in three seasons - resulting in a ten-point deduction that left them hovering just above the relegation zone.

With the club's bank accounts frozen and creditors circling, Portsmouth were forced to make drastic cost-cutting measures to survive.

Financial turmoil forced Huseklepp's unwanted departure

Portsmouth's second entry into administration created a domino effect that would ultimately seal Huseklepp's fate at Fratton Park.

The club owed approximately £2m to business creditors and a similar amount in unpaid taxes - with fellow sides such as West Brom, Wolves, and Bristol City - among those owed money.

The Norwegian found himself in manager Michael Appleton's office, being informed that Birmingham City wanted to take him on loan for the remainder of the season.

Huseklepp was not the only casualty of Portsmouth's financial meltdown though, fellow players Liam Lawrence and Hayden Mullins were also shipped out on loan deals to Cardiff and Reading respectively.

Huseklepp was against Birmingham City loan deal

There's no doubt the news came as a devastating blow to Huseklepp - who had settled well on the south coast - and formed a good connection with the club.

Huseklepp later revealed: "I went into the manager's office and he told me Birmingham wanted me on loan, but I really hoped he would then say 'But I want you to stay'."

Instead, he was effectively pushed toward the exit door through no fault of his own.

Despite Birmingham's status as a "top club" seeking Premier League promotion - as described by his agent Tore Pederson - Huseklepp had no desire to leave Portsmouth.

Lasting regret for Huseklepp with his reluctant departure

At Birmingham, Huseklepp managed just two goals in 11 appearances, starting only four matches - despite scoring on his full debut against Derby County.

Struggling to adapt to his new surroundings, he never established the same connection with Blues' supporters that he had enjoyed at Portsmouth.

His limited impact at St Andrew's stood in stark contrast to his promising start on the south coast.

Years later, Huseklepp remained truthful about his feelings regarding the move, stating: "I regret leaving for Birmingham, I would have performed better had I stayed at Pompey.

"I didn't want to go there, but when the manager said I should leave, it made it easy for me."

Perhaps most tellingly, Huseklepp's emotional connection to Portsmouth has endured long after his departure. In 2022, more than a decade after leaving, he chose Portsmouth as the destination for his stag do - describing it as having "a special place in my heart".

Such sentiment from a player who spent less than a full season at the club does speak volumes about what might have been had circumstances off the pitch been different.