PORTSMOUTH captain David James is hoping to be given the chance to see out the season at the club, suggesting he would take a pay cut if it helped ease the crisis of administration.
The future of every single Pompey player hangs in the balance after the south-coast outfit became the first Premier League club to head into administration on Friday.
On the pitch, those players at least proved if they are going to be relegated this season given the nine-point deduction as punishment, but which has yet to be ratified by the Premier League board, then they will go down fighting.
That was evident on Saturday as Portsmouth beat Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor, with on-loan Benfica midfielder Hassan Yebda scoring the winner via a 75th-minute penalty after Martin Paterson’s equaliser.
James said: “There is a sigh of relief in some respects that we’ve gone into administration as opposed to liquidation.
“It keeps the club in the community, keeps the players here, and despite the fact the money issues are still there, it gives us a chance to keep playing football.
“As for me, I want to stay at Portsmouth until the end of the season and be part of the most incredible recovery ever.
“I want to play games. If things have to be done in order for me to stay in the team, then so be it.
“I can’t speak for the other players, only for me.
“The importance of Portsmouth outweighs the importance of any individual. I am happy to stay here and if I need to sit down and talk to the administrator, then that is what I will do.”
