04.02.2010
James gives Pompey contract boost
Cash-strapped Portsmouth received a welcome boost on the financial front on Thursday when goalkeeper David James said he would give up his right to an automatic contract extension.
Under the terms of the England international's current deal, James is automatically entitled to a one-year extension if he plays 25 games for the club this season.
One reason why James has only played 14 times this season is thought to be because the club would not have been able to afford to pay the 39-year-old's reported 50,000 pounds-a-week wages for another year.
Portsmouth, bottom of the Premier League and taken over for a fourth time this season on Thursday when Nepal-born Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai assumed control at Fratton Park, were involved in talks with Stoke to sell James during the January transfer window.
But instead it was fellow Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic who left to join Stoke.
James, who has not started for England since the 2-1 win over Ukraine last April, said he wanted to stay at Fratton Park and so increase his chances of being selected for this year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
"Sitting on the bench or not even sitting on the bench would not have done me any good in trying to help Portsmouth stay up or trying to get in the England squad for the World Cup," James told the Portsmouth News.
Source: © 2010 AFP - Carl de Souza
|
England / England .jpg)
