 On 6 July 2012, just over a month after signing for Lincoln, he accepted an offer by Michael Appleton to join the coaching staff at League One side Portsmouth.The club's financial situation meant that he was obliged to return to playing duties in the 2012–13 campaign.However his only appearance was in a 3–0 League Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on the opening day of the season; he was 12 years older than the team's second oldest player Simon Eastwood.