MANAGER Eddie Howe insists he would rather uphold Burnley’s proud tradition on a tight budget than risk the club’s future by breaking the bank.

Today’s opponents Portsmouth, Howe’s former club, find themselves in administration for the second time in three seasons.

Incurring a 10-point penalty has left them second bottom, three points from safety with seven games to play.

It is a situation the 34-year-old is only too familiar with, having operated under a transfer embargo and battled back from a 17-point deduction in his first managerial job at AFC Bournemouth.

And he has no wish to repeat the experience.

“Working within the means and the boundaries you’re given – you always want more,” he said.

“You always want to build a better squad with better players. But you don’t want the other way. I’ve been involved with that before and it’s an absolute nightmare.

“Stability, moving forward slowly and surely is the best way.

“I don’t think any supporter wants to go through what Portsmouth supporters have gone through this season – the uncertainty about the future of their club, whether their club will exist.

“The history of this club and the proud traditions that go back many years I think is one of the things that makes this club (Burnley) so special, and you don’t want to add a chapter of financial instability around that.

“We move forward the way we are and we’re happy to do so, but we know we are competing against richer clubs. That’s a fact.”

But Howe is determined to find ways of keeping the Clarets competitive, by striving to keep his squad together in the summer, fast-track youth team players, and strengthen with recruits, without over-spending.

“If you had unlimited budgets you’d keep the players happy,” he said.

“We have to be very smart with what money we do have.

“I don’t want to get too involved in the politics of it all but we certainly work very much within what we’ve got and act very sensibly at board level.

“Portsmouth have a really good history and a fantastic support as everyone knows.

“It’s sad to see them struggle, and they have done now for a number of years.

“The players down there won’t deserve it, the management staff won’t deserve it, and most of all the fans won’t deserve it.

“It’s tough times for them.”

But Howe insists sympathy must be in short supply come 3pm today.

“I don’t want to criticise Portsmouth, they’ve obviously had their problems. What they’re trying to do now is stay up despite the 10-point penalty.

“I think what that has done is rejuvenated them and given them a backs against the wall, siege mentality – all those cliches.

“It will be a tough test because, knowing the crowd down there as well as I do, they will be right behind their players and will make it a special atmosphere.”

Howe spent over two years at Portsmouth, but was beset by injury.

“We’ve got to make sure that we stand up to that and we’re in the right frame of mind because it will be a battle,” he said.

“It can be a really difficult situation but in some senses it takes the pressure off their players.

“Sometimes you can find things that you didn’t know you had deep within you.

“That’s what makes it such a dangerous game for us.

“They turned Hull over on Tuesday, and Hull are an excellent side. They turned them over comfortably as well. Watching the game, they were very, very good.

“We don’t underestimate them.

“Because of what they have to play for and all the surroundings to the game, it’s going to be difficult.”

Howe added: “I’d like to see them stay in the division, but I’d like to see us win.

“My only priority is to make sure we end the season as high as we can.”