Remember When...
Micky Adams Came and Went as Manager
by nigel davies
Michael Duff may well be under intolerable pressure but whatever happens Mike will have outlasted Micky as Swans manager, the latter having lasted just 13 DAYS. Let’s remember Adams’ appointment and departure…
It’s just turned October 1997; the sheen is already slipping from new owners Silver Shield as the Swans struggle towards the bottom of the Third Division and Jan’s the man to carry the can as the popular Molby is relieved of his duties.
Having taken the Swans to Wembley for a play-off final that finished in heartbreaking defeat to Northampton just a few months earlier, Molby was still a hugely popular man amongst the faithful on the Vetch Field terraces, but this didn’t stop Chairman Steve Hamer and Silver Shield owner Neil McClure ruthlessly pulling the trigger.
“I was called into the office and told things had not gone well,” seethed Molby. “I was not asked to resign, I was sacked straight away.
“I’m bitterly disappointed. True, the results have been poor, but I’d like to think there was more to it than that. I don’t think they wanted me there from the start.
“I wasn’t their choice and they made it as difficult as possible for me by refusing to let me bring in players, Steve Watkin apart. I think the results have given them the perfect opportunity to get rid of me.”
That was on October the 8th…October the 9th saw Silver Shield unveil Molby’s replacement, Micky Adams.
Rising managerial star Adams and his assistant Alan Cork had just suffered a similar unpopular fate at Fulham. Despite taking the Cottagers from the bottom of the Third to the middle of the Second Division, new owner Mohammed Al Fayed wasn’t satisfied and wanted a ‘bigger name’ to spend his millions and bring quick success.
Adams was axed and Kevin Keegan was brought in to replace him, leaving Adams available when Swansea parted company with Molby a few weeks later.
Having terminated Big Jan in the morning the Silver Shield crew meandered down to the Mumbles to meet with Adams and to offer him the Swans job.
News broke the following day that despite a couple of minor points on a contract still being outstanding, Adams would become Swans boss with Cork as his assistant.
Crucially, that contract remained unsigned…
But on the 9th of October it seemed that Adams was right up for the challenge of leading Swansea City out of trouble and into a better future under seemingly ambitious owners.
“I’m excited about the chance to work again, and get back into the game,” enthused Adams.
“It doesn’t bother me that Swansea are fifth from bottom in the Third Division, I have been in that position, and worse, with Fulham.”
That position got worse at Swansea City over the next 13 days as the club crashed to three damaging defeats in succession, starting with a 1-0 reverse at Exeter.
Adams had left the squad in caretaker Curt’s hands for that one as he sought to assess his squad, but he was fully in charge when three and a half thousand Jacks trooped in to Vetch Field to watch their side go down to Notts County by the odd goal in three.
By the time Mansfield had inflicted a single goal Vetch Field defeat on October 21st Adams had already decided he’d made a big mistake and was on his way out.
Now, according to Adams his resignation on the 22nd October was down to broken promises regarding money and squad strengthening. In his ‘On The Ball’ column printed on the day of his departure, but befor ehe’d actually confirmed his decision to go, Adams wrote the following: “It’s extremely disappointing at the moment because I’ve got a long list of players ready to talk to about coming to Swansea City.
“I’ve agreed fees with clubs for players but I’ve got to get the green light off the Board to actually do some wheeling and dealing.”
Like his predecessor Molby, Adams had concluded that the Swans squad as it was would see the club relegated. Adams had been promised money was there to bring in some experienced players but he was asked to put deals on hold to the following January, something he just couldn’t countenance.
“As far as I am concerned the next 24 hours are crucial. And yes, my job does depend on it. I will demand answers in the next day or so.
“I am not a quitter and I want to see the job through, but I have got to have the tools to do the job.”
Adams got his answers later that day and didn’t like them, apparently being asked to wait 60 days to get his tools in the following January. With no contract signed he simply walked away – the benefit of being financially set for life after his extremely large Fulham severance package.
Or was it something else that made walking away so easy? We’ll come back to that…
In the following day’s Press, Vice Chairman McClure and Chief Executive Peter Day both lamented Adams’ departure but both refuted it was down to a lack of money and suggested Adams had gone for ‘personal reasons’.
“It has been suggested that Micky left because we weren’t prepared to bring in new players,” said McClure, “but people must judge us on whether we manage to do that over the next few weeks.
“Losing Jan was a disaster – losing Micky is equally bad news. This has to be the worst day since we took over the club. People have reminded me of the phrase it’s a funny old game, but I don’t think it’s very humorous at the moment.”
Day went on to try to explain the situation to furious fans still reeling from the Molby sacking mere days before.
“I had a long chat with Micky after the game on Tuesday night and continued the discussions yesterday morning. But at the end of it he decided to resign for personal reasons.
“We tried to persuade him to stay, but he felt he wanted to be remembered for the success he had at Fulham and the good name he had in the game.
“He wanted to go elsewhere. It wasn’t money at the end of the day because funds will be made available for new players.”
Now it is interesting that Day says that Adams ‘wanted to go elsewhere’ because rumours had been doing the rounds for a few days that Adams was going to join a London club, favouring the Capital of England over Wales’ second city.
Within days of leaving the Vetch Adams was installed as the boss of Brentford, confirming statements made during the previous week by Eddie May and Barry Fry, among others, that it was well known in London that he had been in discussions to take over at Griffin Park.
Whether miffed and concerned over perceived broken promises, or scandalously taking advantage of an unsigned contract to take abetter job elsewhere, the Adams reign was over in less than a fortnight – a forgettable tenure encompassing three damaging defeats but a fascinating chapter in Swansea City’s colourful history.
Micky’s mate Alan Cork elected to honour his commitment to Swansea City and stayed on at the club as Adams’ replacement…
…but that’s a whole other story!!
