Salisbury City’s woes continue as manager Mikey Harris departs for Portsmouth.

Harris has “exercised a clause” in his contract that means he’ll now take up a role at Fratton Park with the youth team.

The club had been expelled to the Conference South earlier this month after failing clear outstanding debts and now face the trauma of replacing the popular manager.

Harris had renewed his contract at the Whites last month and was set to be head coach when the squad returns for pre-season on Monday.

But after relegation he was left considering his future.

On his return from honeymoon the UEFA A licensed coach had talks with owner Mark Winter.

While discussions were being had with Mr Winter, Pompey, a club he played for and supported as a boy offered the opportunity to join as a coach.

Harris said: “I would like to thank the players, staff and supporters at Salisbury City for their support during my time at the club. I leave with some great memories of some special achievements."

A club statement said:

"Manager Mikey Harris has left Salisbury City FC, exercising a clause in his contract to join league two Portsmouth FC in a youth team capacity. Naturally it is a big blow to the club. Mikey may well have stayed is joint owner 'Mark Winter' had been able to wrestle complete control of the club off Otail Touzar, which is the subject of an on going legal action.

"Ironically Touzar has not spoken to Mikey, or is even aware that the manager has left."

Salisbury City Spokesman Paul Smith said: "obviously we are extremely disappointed to lose Mikey but under the circumstances appreciate why he has decided to leave. He goes with our best wishes for the future".

Joint owner Mark Winter added: "I'm devastated to lose Mikey and I felt he would have stayed if Otail Touzar had not remained as the owner of the club. But as the legal fight to remove him continues, Mikey has decided with a heavy heart to leave. For him and Sarah Gomme (new wife) we can all understand the reasons for coming to this decision"