Avram has his wish granted

IT WILL no doubt be another seven days of madness at Fratton Park and even though they managed to pick up three points against relegation rivals, despite their administrator’s protests, they will find themselves docked nine this week.

Three steps forward and nine steps back is what Portsmouth are all about and in the new spirit of transparency, their administrator Andrew Andronikou put the club’s debt at €88 million yesterday.

Andronikou is adamant there is a way of avoiding the deduction and, if they achieve that, Avram Grant’s side have a chance of overhauling the teams above them, who have stuck to their limited budgets.

But if they are dropped to 10 points, even making up a 14-point gap to safety would stretch the craziness of life on the south coast, although nine wins from their last 11 games will be enough, according to Hermann Hreidarsson, who has already been relegated four times.

Andronikou feels that the squad is worth €39m and has floated the idea of selling players, who are then loaned back to Portsmouth but not allowed to play. It is not something that interests David James, who would reject the opportunity to warm up for the World Cup by sitting on the sidelines.

James, 39, who came close to moving to Stoke in the January transfer window, has refused to hold Portsmouth to a contract extension that would have cost the club €3.4m to keep the veteran goalkeeper for next season. James is available on a free transfer in the summer but if Andronikou could secure a deal with a club to make the goalkeeper’s £60,000 a week wages someone else’s responsibility, he will.

But having had three of the last four months interrupted by calf problems, James, who is in Fabio Capello’s England squad for Wednesday’s friendly with Egypt, just wants to keep playing. “My intention, quite simply, is not to miss games,” James said.

“I will do whatever I need to do to make sure that is fulfilled. It is not just about the World Cup. Don’t get me wrong, I am not ‘playing for the World Cup’.

“I am doing the right thing as a professional footballer for a club which needs its players to play. The idea of sitting in the stand is bad enough when I am injured, so to volunteer to not play would not be good.

“My games for Portsmouth are what potentially are going to influence whether I play in the World Cup. I will do what I need to do in order to play games because I want to go to the World Cup.

“In order to do that, I have to do what I have to do for Portsmouth. If I have to sit down withthe administrator, then that will happen!.”

It may look bleak for Portsmouth but the way Burnley are playing, they still have more chance of staying in the Premier League than the Clarets. Owen Coyle departed for good reason and although it looks like rebellion against Brian Laws is not too far away, the Turf Moor club were doomed long ago, a feeling that was underlined by the fact they only managed one goal against a central defensive partnership of Hreidarsson and Ricardo Rocha.

Portsmouth may not have any cash but they have plenty of pace in wide areas. Danny Webber beat Danny Fox to send over a cross that was touched in at the far post by Frederic Piquionne, who was lost by Clarke Carlisle at the start of a miserable day for the Burnley skipper.

Burnley levelled when Martin Paterson guided a lob over James but Carlisle’s appearances on Countdown, which were broadcast last week, were filmed weeks ago – but were still being blamed for him handing the game to Portsmouth.

First, he chopped down Piquionne in the area only for Brian Jensen to come to his rescue and save from Jamie O’Hara’s penalty, but he did not get any more help from his goalkeeper when he hauled down John Utaka after making a hash of receiving a throw-in, with Hassan Yebda firing in from the spot.

Even Rocha’s late dismissal could not open it up for the hosts and now, with one win in 16, Burnley’s defending is strangling their chance of staying in the Premier League.

“We know we’re in trouble but we have to turn it around away from home as well now,” Jensen said.

“We’ve got a good chance still. We’ve got six home games to go and anything can happen.”

MATCH RATING: *** – Portsmouth well worth their win, continuing to attempt to play football while the dark clouds are also gathering for Burnley.

REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear) 8 – Had no choice but to award two penalties and right to send off Rocha.