Owen Moxon could face Carlisle United in nine days’ time after more details of his move to Portsmouth emerged.

Blues manager Paul Simpson confirmed that there was no agreement in the deal to prevent the midfielder coming up against his former club so soon after leaving.

While such agreements often appear in loan deals, there is no such provision in a permanent transfer.

It means Moxon is in line for a quick reunion when his new club visits Brunton Park on Saturday, February 10.

“There’s nothing [to prevent that],” Simpson told the News & Star today.

“When you're doing a permanent transfer, you can't do those sorts of things.

“So now he's Portsmouth's player and it's up to them to decide. So he'll be back very soon.

“And I hope we give him a good welcome – but I also hope he goes away with nothing.”

MOXON'S UNITED DEPARTURE

Simpson said United had accepted a “nominal” fee for Moxon rather than risk losing him for nothing in the summer.

United’s boss said the sum the club would receive was less than the 26-year-old was worth, in his opinion.

But he said the situation – with Moxon in the final months of his contract – had led the club to do the best deal they could in the circumstances.

Simpson said United had “reluctantly” agreed to allow the Denton Holme favourite to go.

Reflecting on Moxon’s time at the club, the Carlisle boss said: “He's been really good to work with. Last season I think he did exceed our expectations – he was outstanding last season with his assists, and also his goals return.

“So he's certainly made a mark on the football club.

“The last few weeks have been disappointing. In fact, the last few months have been disappointing because of the whole cloud that's been hanging over [with the contract uncertainty].

“And I think it became clear to me in the last week or maybe two weeks ago, when I was given the news that he was wasn't going to sign a new contract.

“In my mind, it was always a case then that we've got to move him out. We can't as a business take the chance of letting him go for free in the summer. “We had to just do something and it was very clear that that was where he is his head was at. So reluctantly, we have to agree to the deal.

“But I think he is going to a very, very good football club, a club that's sort of on the brink of going to Championship level.

“And it's up to him to show that he's got the ability to be able to firstly get into their team, and then to see whether he's capable of holding his own in a in a top end League One side as opposed to playing at the bottom end of League One.”