Source: Telegraph
Portsmouth to speak to David James before deciding on next manager
James has been offered a new playing contract at Portsmouth but his future managerial ambitions were also discussed during talks with administrator Andrew Andronikou this month. [LNB]Andronikou has doubts over whether James is ready to become a manager, but does want to speak further with the 39 year-old about the vacancy. One option would be for James to step into a player-coach role in support of Paul Groves, who is assistant manager and another leading contender to replace Grant. [LNB]Andronikou will also consult David Lampitt, who will take over as chief executive on June 1, and owner Balram Chainrai before coming to any decision. [LNB]James is at a training camp with the England squad in Austria, but Andronikou hopes that they can discuss the situation before he travels to South Africa for the World Cup. [LNB]"David has expressed an interest in taking the next stage of his career into management," said Andronikou. "Albeit we believe it has come a bit too early to appoint him as manager. [LNB]"I believe he will have an input into the decision. The David James question is very much core to our decision making."[LNB]Meanwhile, Avram Grant could be unveiled as West Ham's new manager by June 2. [LNB]It is understood that the former Portsmouth manager has agreed a deal in principle to become the successor to sacked Gianfranco Zola. [LNB]Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has been given the go-ahead by Fifa to represent Ghana at the World Cup. [LNB]Boateng was born in Berlin to a Ghanaian father and a German mother. He represented Germany at every youth level. [LNB]
