While players and staff continue to self-isolate, president of the Portimonense SAD, Rodiney Sampaio, has issued assurances that the club will honour its financial commitments until the end of the season.
The future of manager Paulo Sérgio, the third man to take charge this year following António Folha and Bruno Lopes, is less certain. Sérgio, whose contract runs out in June, was hired in February and tasked with improving results, but has yet to record a win.
One player who is still confident of avoiding relegation is 22-year-old midfielder Lucas Fernandes. The Brazilian, who recently decided to stay in the Algarve permanently following a loan-spell with São Paulo, believes the squad under the current manager’s leadership is good enough to retain its top division status.
Whether the team will get a chance to live up to his expectations remains to be seen as football authorities continue to deliberate as how to conclude the 2019/20 league programme.
By SKIP BANDELE
