Farewell Wap

Last updated : 11 January 2005 By Keith Allman
Dagnabbit
Harald Wapenaar is set to return to Holland, after agreeing a free transfer switch to Vitesse Arnhem - former club of Dejan Stefanovic.

After making only eight appearances in a year and a half at Fratton Park, it was clear Wap's time was limited. It became even more apparent when he was dropped to the substitutes bench for the reserves; Hislop, Ashdown and Guatelli all favoured over the likeable keeper. Indeed, his last appearance in blue was against Blackpool in the FA Cup Third Round last season.

To be fair to him he's never done anything wrong but had the misfortune of playing at a time when the team were on a woeful run of form, courtesy of a mammoth injury list. His case was not helped even moreso when reports began to appear in the summer quoting Wap as saying that he was prepared to sit on his big contract and bleed the club dry; all media invention.

It's been no secret he wishes to return to his family, and had been thwarted previously when the club turned down a loan bid from a Dutch club - apparently a permanent move was the only option. And so it has come to light, all that is left is for him to pass a medical and it's on to pastures new.