Distin: I expect to be a Pompey player next season
Sylvain Distin has said he expects to remain at Pompey.
The Frenchman feels he's likely to stay at Fratton Park, but admitted that could change, with the future of a host of the Blues' top players in the balance.
Doubt is sweeping through Paul Hart's squad with speculation a number of the team may be on their way in the summer.
Executive chairman Peter Storrie has made it clear the wage bill has to be significantly reduced.
That has led to a number of clubs circling and preparing to swoop for the club's major assets.
Distin undoubtedly falls into that category and has been linked with a move to Spurs.
The defender insisted he was not aware of any move being in the offing, and believed he would still be at the club in pre-season.
But he admitted that could all change in the next couple of months.
Distin said: 'Right now I expect to be here next season.
'I'm not in touch with anyone.
'Right now I expect to be here, but you know how it is in football.
'Tomorrow things can change, there may be a new manager with his players and I won't play.
'I'm the kind of player who likes to play.
'A lot of things can happen in the coming months.
'We don't know what is going to happen. All I want to do is go away on holiday, relax and refresh my mind.
'Then I will come back and see what happens.
'We don't know what is going to happen. We don't know who is going to be here.
'We need money. If we want to get back to winning things and being where we were last season we need money to buy players.
'We have to see if anyone wants to buy the club.
'We have one of the smallest squads in the league, so it is physically and mentally difficult.
'We have a lot of players out of contract and we need players.
'Who is going to go? We shall see.'
Distin spoke of his frustration that Pompey ended the season with defeat at the JJB Stadium yesterday.
But he has been left impressed with the response of the team after Paul Hart arrived in February.
And the 31-year-old felt he would be the right man to take the club forward with his assistant Brian Kidd.
Distin said: 'I'm a bit disappointed to be honest.
'We have tried to relax a bit mentally and play football, but we lost focus.
'We were in danger and have been in danger for a long time.
'We needed to get some points and we had to fight hard to achieve that.
'We got out of the position and that was a good reaction.
'It was a very difficult thing to do. A lot can happen. What can I do about it? I don't have any words for it.
'All I can say is that Paul Hart and Brian did a good job. I would be delighted to see them next season.
'I don't want to get rid of them.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 10 February 2012
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