Strachan Supports Pompey Promotion !

Last updated : 03 September 2002 By Christian Kelly

While the club doctors immediately rushed in to take the clearl ill Strachan to hosiptal he managed to say : "I'll probably get strung up for saying it, but I hope Pompey get promoted.

"It will be good for the area to have competition. I like derby games - everyone likes derbies.

"The whole city would be buzzing for two or three weeks.

"I'm in my own world here and not getting involved with the rivalry with Pompey.

"There is enough bitterness in the world without it getting into football," he added.

"When I've been to Ports-mouth I've found the people are generally alright to me," he said.

"And the support at Saints has been good all the time.

"The fans have always known their job and got behind the team. There's no difference to when I came here 20 years ago as a player, although there's more supporters now."

Gordon's right, there shouldn't be any bitterness in football.

Unfortunately there is and I've had my fair share of abuse from Portsmouth fans down the years.

While derby games sound great, there is always an undercurrent of potential violence at such events. There are stupid sections of fans on both sides who would undoubtedly take advantage of the ocassion.

More importantly, while it would only be for the single season Pompey were in the Premiership, I would hate to lose to them. I'd much rather they remained a division below trying and failing to get promotion every year.