Hampton & Richmond Borough chairman Steve McPherson insists he will do everything he can to ensure Alan Devonshire remains as Beavers boss.

McPherson has confirmed he granted permission for the West Ham United legend - after a two-hour emergency summit - to speak with Cambridge United over the vacant manager’s position at the Abbey Stadium.

Devonshire is currently in talks with Hampton to sign a two-year extension to his current contract, which expires at the end of the season, but met with United officials on Monday over the possibility of a move to the Blue Square Premier title chasers.

McPherson had initially rebuffed the approach but agreed to let his manager listen to his options having struck a gentleman’s agreement with the former England winger regarding his future ambitions.

He couldn’t rule out the Ryman League Premier Division winning manager’s departure, but insisted there was an attractive offer to stay at the Beveree already on the table.

“I initially refused Cambridge permission, but I spoke to Alan for about two hours and we came to an agreement that he could speak to them so he knew all his options,” he said.

“We had already started negotiations over his future here and we are at the stage where I think we have made him a very good offer to stay.

“He is happy at the club and he wants to stay. It was out of courtesy, a gentleman’s agreement, that I let him speak to them. We’ve both always been very honest with each other.

“They are a Blue Square Premier club that have lost in the play-offs for the last two seasons. He wants to manage at that level and feels he has to show the ambition to at least discuss the options.

“He is under contract, so Cambridge would have to compensate us to get him and secondly, I would have to agree to the move.”

And he admitted Devonshire’s exit could be catastrophic on a number levels, hinting it might see the end of an era for him and the players.

“There is no doubt a good offer from Cambridge - which he could get - would give us a major dilemma,” he added.

“The players would be as surprised as I would be if he left. They are loyal to him and no doubt they are the sort of squad players he might want to continue to work with if he left.”