OUTGOING senior assistant coach Michael Voss has penned a letter expressing his gratitude to the Port Adelaide family and explaining the influence the club has had on his life.

Voss was on Thursday appointed the senior coach of the Carlton Football Club, ending a seven-year stint with Port Adelaide.

The Brisbane Lions triple premiership player first landed at Alberton at the end of 2014 to take on the role of midfield manager.

It was an unlikely move for the former Lions captain, who with his team had built up quite a rivalry with the Power in the early 2000s.

Transitioning to become Ken Hinkley’s senior assistant coach from 2019, Voss has been credited with helping Port Adelaide’s football group build a strong connection.

His hasty exit to Melbourne this week to be unveiled as the new Blues coach meant he was unable to farewell the group as he would have liked so he penned a note and sent it through on Friday.

“I just wanted to touch base to express my enormous gratitude to the Port Adelaide family for the last seven years,” Voss wrote. “I got so much more than what I asked for and expected.

“I still remember my first conversation with Ken about coming to the football club and never thought in my wildest dreams that Port Adelaide would have such a significant influence in my life.

“The highs, the laughs, the fun, the challenges and more recently the tears. I couldn’t be more proud of being part of the club and the effort everyone has put in to get the club back into contention.”

Voss thanked the Port Adelaide community for embracing him and his family.

He also extended his thanks to everyone at the club who had been part of his journey.

“I have loved turning up every day to get better,” he wrote.

“It has been a real pleasure to work with outstanding people and professionals right throughout the football department.

“I’ve learnt so much from you. It’s very easy to see why the boys love coming to the club with the environment that has been created.”