Whittingham: I'll stay as long as Pompey want me

The former Blues striker was asked to become caretaker boss for a second spell by administrator Trevor Birch as Michael Appleton left for Blackpool yesterday.

Whittingham will be in charge for Saturday’s trip to Bury. But with so much uncertainty surrounding the club, the 47-year-old admits he simply doesn’t know if he wants the full-time job as yet but is happy to fill in – even if it is for a lengthy spell.

Whittingham said: ‘I’d heard a few things but I was only told on Wednesday evening when Trevor Birch called me.

‘I’ve said before that when you get the chance to be in charge of this club for however long that may be, it’s a privilege.

‘But it’s too early to discuss whether I would want to do the job for the longer term.

‘It’s not about me. The most important thing at the moment is that this football club keeps going and it comes out of administration.

‘I’m prepared to do it for as long as I’m needed. Trevor asked me to take charge on Saturday, which I’m delighted to do. Then we can sit down and discuss things in more detail after the Bury game.’

With assistant manager Ashley Westwood following Appleton, Academy boss Andy Awford and under-18 manager Paul Hardyman are now both expected to join Whittingham in the first-team coaching set-up.

Whittingham said: ‘I will meet with all of the rest of the staff to discuss things and I will get the views of Andy (Awford) and Paul (Hardyman).

‘We will talk things through and we’ll come up with some decent answers. But we need to win some games, come up with a real fighting spirit and have a real go at it.’