David James would love to manage Portsmouth alongside former team-mate Hermann Hreidarsson

The pair were part of the Blues' FA Cup-winning team in 2008 and firm favourites among the PO4 faithful, making 257 appearances between them during their time at the club.

And the former England ace, 50, insists taking charge of Pompey one day is now very much on his and Hreidarsson's 'to-do list'.

The duo applied for the job following Guy Whittingham's sacking in November 2013, with Richie Barker instead appointed.

James – who had a brief spell as manager of Indian side Kerala Blasters, with Hreidarsson his assistant, in 2018 – made his intentions of becoming a manager in England clear last summer.

Yet he would love a crack at taking the PO4 hot seat alongside Hreidarrson at some point – although the ex-England keeper said it's not something they're currently pursuing.

James said: ‘We’ve both got so much love for the club (Pompey).

‘That is still very much on the to-do list.

‘But I’m not saying it in a way that I’m sending my CV every week to Portsmouth.

‘I think there are maybe some different stories and versions but I think there was a time quite early on when Hermann said to apply for the job.

‘It wasn’t the right time for both of us, I wasn’t qualified to do it, but that is still very much on our to-do lists.

‘We’ve had a couple (management stints together).

‘I was his assistant in Iceland and he was my assistant in India.

‘We’ve trodden many paths together which is all good.’

James remains keen on managing and coaching in England but is also exploring other avenues within the game.

During his managerial spell with Kerala Blasters, he found himself enjoying the 'administration and dealing with boards' side of the business.

As a result, it's prompted the former Pompey ace to take up a governance course with the PFA with a view to holding a non-executive or boardroom role in the future.

James added: ‘One thing I did learn in India, I knew this in the first place, but what I did learn a lot about was having to deal with stuff off the field.

‘The 90 minutes of a game is a very short period of time in the week of a football club.

'I found myself, dare I say, enjoying that part of the game – even though it wasn’t a good aspect of the game. But I enjoyed having to do a lot of the administration and dealing with boards shall I say.

‘I still have a desire to manage or coach but my focus seems to be going towards more boardroom level now.

‘I’m currently on a course with the PFA for governance so that will probably be the way I go.

‘I say probably, but like anything, you need to be accepted or voted onto a board.

‘I think initially a non-executive role would be the preferred route but where it goes who knows.’