Hey Daniel,
Thanks for posting here and giving us a different perspective.
I think where our point of view comes from is based on some of the Pools forums. They seemed to indicate that Danny Wilson didn't rate/like/ had fallen out with Porter and with that in mind it was very unlikely that the option would be taken up.
Do you know anything about that?
Wilson has been a big problem. If I could hazard a bet...If Neale Cooper was in charge I don't think Porter would have considered leaving us.
Porter has been excellent but he has been in and out of the team.
Having said that, Wilson would have been thick to get rid of Porter as he is a fan favourite and we have 3 strikers (one of them was none league one a half seasons ago and is still learning and one of them is knocking on a bit and suffered with injuries a lot last season)
Wilson has always been coy about contract renewals in interviews. It's always been a case of "wait and see". Judging by our release list we've either released really poor players or youth team members. So I don't think Wilson had any intention of releasing Porter and if I am correct he did say to Radio Cleveland that Porter "is very much part of my plans" as soon as the Wellington rumour surfaced.
Whether Porter is in Wilson's first team plans is another question and is the one that probably made Porter want to leave (other than he misses home).