Source: Telegraph
David James kisses £3m Portsmouth contract goodbye to save England World Cup place
If the goalkeeper, who turns 40 this summer, plays nine more games for the club this season — making 25 in all it will trigger an automatic 12-month contract extension, on the same terms.[LNB]James knows that, after his injury problems, he needs to play regularly now to convince Fabio Capello that he should be included in the squad for South Africa. But because Portsmouth could not afford a new deal, he knew he was running the risk of being left out once he reached 24 appearances, thereby missing the final seven games of the season.[LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League to blame for Portsmouth debaclePortsmouth's four owners: profilesFootball financial meltdownPortsmouth gain owner number fourSport on televisionAvram Grant's brothel visit'My representative has had a chat with the club about sorting out the contract issues, as I didn't want that to be a deciding factor given how the club have been financially over the last few months,' James said.[LNB]'Given that you're outside the transfer window, then sitting on the bench or not even that wouldn't have done me any good with trying to help Portsmouth stay up, and it wouldn't have done me any good with trying to stay in the England squad for the World Cup.[LNB]'It was a legitimate concern. We've now asked the Premier League to do the renegotiations outside the transfer window as I don't want the club worrying about it and I don't want to be worrying about it myself.'[LNB]James said he had spoken to manager Avram Grant during the January transfer window and, despite having been close to agreeing a move to Stoke City, who subsequently bought another Portsmouth goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, told him that he did not want to leave.[LNB]'I want to stay here until the end of the season, do well, stay in the Premier League, go to the World Cup and worry about next season next season,' James said. 'My only concerns were that there might have been a power above us that dictated to us.[LNB]'It was comic book stuff; we've been living in a comic book existence.'[LNB]That was in reference to Portsmouth's now farcical financial plight, with James also believing he needs to do his bit to help the club. 'Without being funny, it's not that I'm the richest man in the world, but if there is a financial burden that makes the club suffer then why should I?' he said.[LNB]James — one of the few survivors from the team who won the FA Cup in 2008 said he felt a duty towards Portsmouth. 'Those of us that are left have had the highs — everyone remembers back to the FA Cup but we had a couple of great league seasons as well — and things are very much different now,' he said, while adding that he did not want to move and cause disruption to his family.[LNB]'I love Portsmouth for being, dare I say, a traditional football club. Things like my contract, whatever you can do to avoid any financial burden, we have to ensure the club survives in the Premier League and that's the goal.' [LNB]
