Jamie O’Hara spent the 2009-10 campaign on loan at Fratton Park from Spurs.
Jamie O’Hara has apologised to the Fratton faithful after an angry outburst on national radio.
The former midfielder, now turned pundit, of course, spent the 2009-10 campaign on loan at PO4 from Spurs.
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It was a hugely-successful season-long stay for the 39-year-old, who claimed the club’s Player of the Season after netting three goals and collecting seven assists in all competitions.
But O’Hara has landed himself in hot water with some members of the Fratton faithful after comments he made about the Blues during a dig at West Ham on Wednesday.
During his talkSPORT phone-in show alongside ex-Pompey and Chelsea man Jason Cundy, the former England youth international was furious at one Hammers supporter, who admitted he is happier in the Championship than the Premier League.
Jamie O’Hara makes Pompey comment amid West Ham dig
And Tottenham supporting O’Hara joked he would not get any joy if Spurs were to beat Pompey in the second tier should the north London outfit suffer relegation from the top flight.
In response to the West Ham fan, he said on talkSPORT: ‘I know but you’re in the Championship and it is bad. I’d still rather be a Spurs fan and you’re in the Championship.
‘Say you don’t go up, it’s not guaranteed. You could be in the Championship next season, that is a possibility.
‘Spurs can’t be in the Championship, you have been in the Championship. It’s fine for West Ham you’ve been in it before but Spurs have never been in the Championship. It’s a disaster if Spurs go down, we’ve spent £400m.
‘Well done you’ve beaten Pompey. Well done. You drew against Millwall. They’re the teams you’re playing, you’ve got Lincoln to play. You’re rocking up and getting three points but you’re in the Championship.
‘You’re (West Ham) are a small-club mentality. You’re unbeaten in the Championship, well done West Ham, what a season.
‘He’s a West Ham fan, who have got a small club mentality and are happy to be playing football in the Championship just because they can win a few games. It’s embarrassing.
‘Sixty thousand in the stadium to beat Lincoln. If Spurs go down I’m not getting any joy from getting three points against Portsmouth.
‘West Ham fans should not be celebrating them winning games in the Championship - they've got Jarrod Bowen playing for them.’
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Jamie O’Hara apologises to Fratton faithful
Those comments drew an angry response from Pompey supporters on X, with fans disappointed with the former Fratton Park midfielder.
@POMP_jack said: ‘Mugging off Pompey @Mrjamieohara1 probably the one club you was half decent at’, while @RobaFett1898 added: ‘Have some respect, mate as you played for Pompey. Poor from you.’
After the show, however, O’Hara took to social media to apologise to the Fratton faithful and reiterated his love for the club he spent the 2009-10 on loan with.
A message on X read: ‘I wanna apologise to my Pompey fans. I used their name (the) other day when giving it (to a) West Ham fan as they were (the) first name that came to my head in the Championship.
‘I love that club and I love the fans they know this, hope they batter West Ham and I know how big a club they are #PUP’.
O’Hara joined Pompey from Spurs in August 2009 and went on to establish himself as a central figure under Paul Hart and Avram Grant.
The midfielder netted three goals and provided seven assists in 29 appearances for the Blues, with his final outing coming in the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley.
His contributions, which included a strike against Southampton that term, saw him rewarded with the Player of the Season accolade, despite Pompey’s Premier League relegation.
He returned to Spurs that summer before spells with Wolves, Fulham and Gillingham.