The caretaking management team at Portsmouth, Paul Hart and Brian Kidd, have the credentials to do the job permanently, claims Pompey keeper David James. Under their guidance, Pompey have collected four points from two games and have begun to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.

He told The News: "To come back from the position of defeat against Stoke (during a 2-2 draw on Saturday) showed a lot of resilience and the sort of character which, in a short space of time, Hart and Kiddo have reinstalled into us.

"It's more like the Portsmouth of last season. We would have probably lost 3-1 a few weeks ago.

"It seems to be right that these two guys are in charge.

"The issue with Sven has been well documented. If he is going to take charge of the club then it's an appointment which would be welcomed by most of the players. But what we have in Harty and Kiddo is very, very positive as well.

"All of a sudden we've got a lot of coaching staff drumming the right things into players day in, day out.

"The appointment has to be right for everyone involved and if Kiddo and Hart are doing a good job then the last thing the club need to be doing is forcing someone's hand.

"A new manager isn't going to bring in any new faces so therefore it's about dealing with the players we've got now - and they can do that.

"When it's right for everybody the appointment should be made, but as far as I'm concerned these two can be right for the job."