James relishing challenge

Veteran shot-stopper content to sacrifice life in top flight

Last updated: 31st July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

James relishing challenge

James: Ready for new challenge

This is purely about doing the right thing and being involved in, albeit, an ambitious attempt to go into the Premiership and doing it for the right reasons.

David James
Quotes of the week

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David James says the chance to help Bristol City challenge for promotion was enough to tempt him away from the Premier League.

The England goalkeeper joined Championship club City on a one-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months earlier this week after making a record 573 Premier League appearances with Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth.

James, who turns 40 on Sunday, says he is content to sacrifice setting records in the top flight in order to compete with the Robins, and the veteran is looking forward to being closer to home to concentrate on family life as well as football.

Decision

"The decision is, dominantly, to do with me being happy in a family environment," said James in a press conference shown on Sky Sports News.

"It's going to get the best out of me as a footballer and it wasn't achievable staying in the Premiership.

"It is the best league in the world and hopefully our new relationship will help that be achieved at Bristol.

"There's so much to be done here in the South West. They've never had Premiership representation for the catchment area. It's quite unbelievable and that achievement, which I hope to be possible, will be a bigger achievement than keeping 200 clean sheets in the Premiership.

"Well, that's the intention in the long-run, but it's one achievement at a time and that's definitely what the intention is."

James says he would be happy to extend his contract at Bristol if the team meet their targets during his initial year at the club.

"Depends how well we get on, doesn't it?" he added. "The contract is for a year.

"If things go according to plan then it will be extended and providing I'm doing all the right things and we're in the Premiership, why move?"

James, who was linked with moves to Celtic and Sunderland before agreeing the Ashton Gate deal, says money was not a motivating factor in joining City.

"I had opportunities, an opportunity to go to Scotland and other Premiership opportunities," he said.

"I've been offered more elsewhere and it's not about money. This is purely about doing the right thing and being involved in, albeit, an ambitious attempt to go into the Premiership and doing it for the right reasons.

"I think some people might find it refreshing that I've done it for other reasons than just getting a payday.

"As I say, I can't commit myself to anything without doing it 100 per cent and that has to be done the right way. As I say there's a few years left in my legs and I want to make sure I'm doing the right things with them."

Management

James, who endured a turbulent campaign with financially-stricken Pompey last season, has not ruled out a move into management, but only once his playing days are over.

"I still want to do all that. There will be a need for me to explore that avenue. But at the moment I'm focusing on playing the game," he said.

"I think last season there was so much turmoil involved that the idea of jumping straight into management seemed quite logical, because I didn't know what was happening.

"But now I've got myself an opportunity to be grounded, not only with my home but with work, the need isn't so great."

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