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It’s time for an ex-Charlton and West Ham player to be assessed on his football abilities, but Portsmouth will forever be defined by a contract dispute.
After more than eight months, the once-contentious Pompey figure may finally be judged solely on football.
Jay Mingi, who came in for Cameron McGeehan in the 57th minute against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, got the new start he craved, but not with the team he expected.
Nonetheless, Colchester emerged as the unexpected destination when the long-running story was finally concluded in the dying hours of the summer transfer window.
There will be fans intrigued whether the fanciful stance by the player and his agent has resulted in the self-destruction of a career which has shown promise.
Yet, with unspecified clauses in addition to receiving a five-figure fee, the Blues could well receive another welcome windfall further down the line should Mingi thrive.
Considering that potential profitable situation, we should wish him well amid the inevitable gloating over how the grass is not necessarily greener.
Certainly, his first first-team appearance since New Year’s Day marked Colchester’s first home win of the season, lifting them from 22nd in League Two.
There was a time when Pompey had high hopes for the ex-Charlton man, which is why a three-year agreement was snubbed in December.
Few objected to such actions aimed at retaining a young star who was having a promising breakout season under Danny Cowley.
Without the benefit of hindsight, Mingi was widely considered at the time as a bright spot in a team that had only one league win in more than four months.
For a time, he was a staple after earning his first League One start at Forest Green in October 2022 with a man-of-the-match performance.
He was unlike any other midfielder on the club’s books, with his ability to drive forcefully up the pitch with the ball at his feet, pulling play away from the Blues’ penalty area and frequently winning fouls.
Mingi made 12 consecutive appearances, starting 10 of them, until injury struck at the turn of the year.
Despite doubts about his ability to last a match, he was developing, a young player with rich promise alongside Zak Swanson, his close friend among Pompey team-mates.
Mingi then suffered medial collateral ligament damage in his knee during the first training session following Cowley’s expulsion, and although regaining to fitness, never played for Pompey again.
During his absence, Mousinho was appointed head coach, although circumstances had altered dramatically, notably in the player’s camp.
Some at Pompey felt that once Mingi returned from injury, he appeared worried and distracted in training, lacking belief in his Blues career.
Instead, another option had piqued his curiosity, especially the promise of the Championship, a belief based on rumors of a slew of interested clubs.
After all, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, and Huddersfield Town were rumored to be interested in the 22-year-old, while his agent claimed three teams, including Charlton, had January bids rejected.
Mingi’s agent, who preferred not to be identified by name, had already established himself as an infamous figure among the Fratton faithful, having previously oversaw the threat of legal action in August 2021 after Pompey pulled a contract when the player suffered a quad injury while representing them on trial.
The matter was addressed by offering the ex-West Ham player a two-year contract on the basis of alleged carelessness and breach of contract.
‘There were Championship clubs sniffing around with a view to the end of the season, but I don’t think you can make a choice off five months of football,’ his representative told The News in April 2023.If Jay had remained on that path, he’d be playing in the Championship this summer, but that’s obviously not the case now because he hasn’t played in the second half of the season.’
Mingi eventually refused his contract, with the Colchester Community Stadium serving as his eventual League Two destination.
And, rather than those once-promising performances, his Fratton Park career will be characterized by an unsigned contract.
