Pompey confirm Adams axe

Former Arsenal defender shown the door at Fratton Park

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 9th February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Pompey confirm Adams axe

Adams: Axed

The priority is for Portsmouth football club to remain in the top flight and we feel the appointment of a new manager will give us the best opportunity to enable us to do this.

Portsmouth statement.
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Portsmouth have confirmed that manager Tony Adams has left the struggling Premier League club.

Sky Sports News revealed on Sunday night that Adams was set to be axed from his post after a run of nine games without a win which left the club just a point above the relegation zone.

And the Fratton Park outfit have now released a statement on Adams' exit, with first-team coach John Metgod also shown the door.

Director of youth operations Paul Hart will take over as caretaker manager until a permanent successor can be found.

"This has been a very difficult decision and Tony has worked tirelessly to arrest the slump in form," a club spokesman told the club's official website.

Priority

"He is rightfully highly-respected within the football world and played a major role in our FA Cup triumph last season. We would like to thank him and John and wish them well in the future.

"The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period where results have been poor. The team has played well but too many points have been dropped from winning positions.

"Notwithstanding the adverse economic conditions the board remains committed to the continued growth and development of the club for the future, building on its achievements of the last three years.

"The priority is for Portsmouth football club to remain in the top flight and we feel the appointment of a new manager will give us the best opportunity to enable us to do this.

"Paul Hart knows the football club, having joined us nearly two years ago, and is a respected coach with managerial experience."

Final straw

Former Arsenal and England captain Adams had only been in charge on the South Coast since late October when he was named caretaker manager following the departure of Harry Redknapp to Tottenham.

However, a run of just two wins in 16 league games has seen the club slide down the table, with Saturday's last-gasp 3-2 home defeat by title-chasing Liverpool deemed to be the final straw.

Pompey were also knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round after a 2-0 home defeat to Coca-Cola Championship side Swansea, ending their defence of the trophy they lifted in May last year.

Comments (50)

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Gary Ward (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...

I think that the Portsmouth chairman has been nothing short of spineless for sacking Tony Adams.

Posted 22:00 9th February 2009

Nick Burnett (Southampton fan) says...

Shame on you Sky Sports, for not putting on any comments from Saints supporters. Saints fans are licking their lips in anticipation at playing 2 derby games against Pompey in the CHAMPIONSHIP next season. This is just the incentive Saints need to climb the table.

Posted 21:12 9th February 2009

James Kermack says...

Again a manager is not given the opportunity to do his job. It seems fans of every club expect their team to be in the champions league as soon as a new manager comes in. As a Spur fan I'm glad we've got Redknapp on board but still believe good progress was cut short with the ill treatment of Jol after a few bad results. Ferguson took time to settle and look at where he has taken United. Adams was'nt given the chance to build a team and work with them. In ten years time you are not going to be having that many home grown managers because there isn't the support. Plus we keep getting excited about bringing in the same underachievers like Keegan and Hoddle... If one of them takes over I give them 6 months.

Posted 20:53 9th February 2009

Karl Walker (Manchester United fan) says...

It's the same thing that happened to Ince! Same question to the board, why was he made manager in the first place? Look at Ince's experience and Adams' How were they equipped to handle the premiership? let alone without funds (or players)? These two should never have been appointed managers of these clubs simple as that! they did not have enough experience and they are as a result victoms of incompetence from two boards. You can't blame them for wanting the jobs, that's what they ultimately wanted! but thanks to two idiotically run teams, you've ruined the reputations of two young and promising managers! When will the FA come in and tell these teams how to act properly when appointing these people?! Either employ a better selection process or stick with your manager regardless of whether you go up or down!

Posted 19:19 9th February 2009

Callum Osbourne (Portsmouth fan) says...

I would just like to wish Tony all the best for the future, as he did all he could for Pompey in the time that he had. He truly had the clubs interest at heart and in the end it just wasn't enough. A run of poor results has left us staring down the barrel of relegation once again, but with the introduction of a new manager, I'm certain we can change our fortune and get those points that we desperately need. Bring it on!!!

Posted 19:14 9th February 2009

Chris Barsby (Swindon Town fan) says...

I can't believe that the loss against Liverpool was the final straw for Portsmouth to sack Adams; did they really expect a win from that game? Portsmouth have shown good team work and a will to win in recent games, but they need to sort their defence out. If they did that then they'd be in the top-half at a minimum. He didn't recieve the backing, it was the same issue with Curbs at West Ham. Key players were sold resulting in a dip in form, causing the axe to fall. Chairmans expect far to much these days.

Posted 15:44 9th February 2009

Andy Doolan (Portsmouth fan) says...

Lets be honest Adams had to go. It's a shame as he seems a genuine honest man but somebody has to be made accountable and that has to be the manager. Granted there are players in our squad badly letting us down.. But Adams obviously wasn't doing or saying the right things to get them back on form again.. If he'd stayed we'd be relegated 100%. We'd lost Defoe and Diarra ... 2 quality players for sure but we still have 3 England internationals in our squad and a lot of quality. I think it's the right time to let him go.. we have a third of the season to get 16 points for safety. We have got 10 points in the last 42 available under Adams.. Come on Mr Curbishley.. in and work your magic please!

Posted 15:43 9th February 2009

Andrew Evans (Manchester United fan) says...

Unfortunately Adams had to go. Pompey have been struggling financially so sold their best players and Tony was quick to point out that he didn't get the money to spend that he was promised. Problem is that the back 4 and goalkeeper is pretty much the same as last season yet looks a world apart - Adams was a phenomenal defender and leader on the pitch so if he can't coach defending then there's no hope. I think he's a great guy and wish him all the best, maybe he should try being a pundit because I don't think he'll ever be a manager.

Posted 15:37 9th February 2009

Martin Davis (Portsmouth fan) says...

I think that Tony's sacking is a shocking decision. I have two things to say: 1. I can't believe that any Pompey supporter is blaming the manager for the dreadful results that Portsmouth have been turning ot recently. I think we are all surprised at how easily we have been throwing results away but, let's be honest, the players are the ones to blame, not the manager. How Tony can be blamed for throwing away the game on Saturday, amongst others, is astonishing. What a shame that an English manager hasn't been given enough time to put his imprint on the game. 2. Portsmouth's board have made massive errors during Tony's stint in charge - firstly saying the club was up for sale just before the opening of the transfer window certainly didn't help his bringing in new faces and secondly sacking him the FIRST week after letting him chose his new players! No chance for him to readjust the team and no chance of a new manager changing things around. Shocking. Quite Shocking!

Posted 15:33 9th February 2009

Chris Bearpark (Portsmouth fan) says...

Tony Adams. Quality coach but Managment is too much for him it seems. On the pitch he faffed about far too much. A team needs stability and that is something we just didn't have. The formation was forever changing. If you look at when we were 1 up against Liverpool Adams decided to fall back and invite the pressure onto the already overworked back line who duely muffed up. Well it was Crouch but he was efectivley defending. We managed to get back ahead and then did the same thing. Inevitable really when Kuyt scored and Torres was on i knew, and i am sure everyone else in the country knew, it would be another pointless day for Pompey. We might stand a chance of staying up now. Just need someone who is tactically aware and not overawed by the job in hand. Shame to loose Tony as a coach though. Have to feel a bit sorry for him after Redknapp deserted us again.

Posted 15:05 9th February 2009

Anna M says...

This is a decision typical of English football - managers aren't given a sporting chance to have a go! Adams is Pompey through and through, and a hell of a hard worker. This country has some sort of stigma against former football stars going into management and I think it's ridiculous. This is the third player-turned-manager that's been sacked this season - Keane, Ince and now Adams. These are the kind of enthusiastic, been there done it characters you need in the sport. They need to be given a chance, instead of this failed manager cycle that English football seems to favour. Craig - Avram Grant failed at Chelsea, why would you want him at Pompey? A new generation of managers are trying to break through and not being given the time to make an impact. Not all managers can be like Ferguson and be given the tenure he's had at Utd. This attitude has to change, otherwise there'll be serious problems in getting managers in 10 years' time.

Posted 14:50 9th February 2009

Dawn Eggleton says...

As a Portsmouth fan I can't help feeling dissapointed at the recent run of results but this was not all Adam's fault. He should have been given more time to do the job and said when he took the job that we wouldn't see his first team until February. Following Harry's departure and unsettling of players as well as the poaching back of Defoe made the team lack cohesion and spirit. The game against Liverpool had some good points with the Crouch Nugent partnership starting to show some promise and his bringing Bel-Hadj to the team. He obviously has some skills as a manager as well in inspiring Nugent's improvement in form domething Charasmatic Harry was unable to do. A real shame they could'nt give him the time to prove himself

Posted 14:30 9th February 2009

James O'fee says...

Just like his mate Paul ince from the old school of cliques, these are the people that thought they had it but never came through with the goods, both with their country and managment, although they excelled as club players the only one who was in the England squad around 1996 who has done anything is Gareth southgate and he's feeling the pinch, just because you are good individually it doesnt mean you can manage, maybe that's why another 1996 England boy is'nt keen to manage mr Shearer, maybe he knows without Venebales's clique to back them their just average.

Posted 14:27 9th February 2009

Linda Stones says...

Although it is always sad when a manger loses his job, we must remember that he was being paid a hell of a lot of money for doing that job, a job which he was struggling to cope with. We were in a great position when Harry left us & we have watched our team slide down the table & out of the FA cup, we should be doing better & we need a good manager to bring us back to the standard of play we were getting used to. I just hope that a hasty decision isnt made as to who will replace Adams!

Posted 14:18 9th February 2009

Linda Stones says...

Although it is always sad when a manger loses his job, we must remember that he was being paid a hell of a lot of money for doing that job, a job which he was struggling to cope with. We were in a great position when Harry left us & we have watched our team slide down the table & out of the FA cup, we should be doing better & we need a good manager to bring us back to the standard of play we were getting used to. I just hope that a hasty decision isnt made as to who will replace Adams!

Posted 14:18 9th February 2009

John Morrison (Chelsea fan) says...

Football is so corrupt these days. Managers and players are constantly unsettled and this ultimately results in managers facing the axe and players leaving clubs they've 'pledged their lives to'. I do feel sorry for Adams. Redknapp was Portsmouth's best ever manager and it was hard for Adams to follow that up. Go on Chelsea!!!!!

Posted 14:14 9th February 2009

Steve Waite (Reading fan) says...

As a Reading supporter I have to smile at the demise of Portsmouth. It was them afterall who put up their worst display of the season on the final day of last season which allowed Fulham to beat them, and stay in the Premier League which they definately did not deserve to do, and this pathetic display by Portsmouth condemned Reading to the Championship. (A putup job maybe!) They say what goes around comes around, and maybe this is what Portsmouth deserve. Let them feel the despair felt by the supporters of a club that has been relegated by the actions of others. Hopefully justice will be done, and Reading will take Portsmouth's place in the Premier League next season.

Posted 14:13 9th February 2009

Paul Riley (Portsmouth fan) says...

So the decision has been made, and the deed done, personally I feel that it isn't Tony's fault that we are were we are. As a team Pompey rarely have a long run of luck, and when the luck isn't with us every game throws up another silly mistake or offical decision that makes you wonder if every cat around Fratton Park has been getting a good kicking. I though that for the vast majority of Sundays game Pompey where the better team (we're looking through my rose coloured glasses here) and listening to the comentators at the time appeared to confirm that the manager in charge of his faculties was Tony Adams and that the one rocking backward and forward humming to himself was in fact Rafa Benitez. With questions being asked during the game as to why Torres was only warming the bench. Oh how foolish those commentators would be now if the report that evening hadn't been how masterful Rafa's tactics are and how poorly Portsmouth played. And this has been the same case for our season since HR left (may be he's been kicking the cats). Yes there have been some horrendous mistakes made on the field, but when luck deserts you, like the gambler chasing the loss, players stop playing how they've been told and just try to turn the game themselves. So were do we go from here, well I personal am down on my knees begging the board to get a manager that the media find so boring that they would rather not talk about Pompey. Give us back the last but one match position on Match Of The Day and I won't complain about my team being over looked. At the end of the day the media has only ever been interested in Pompey as a team that they can wind up when there is no news else where, in fact I suspect that Fleet Street 'finest' are at this moment preparing the return yet again of HR to Fratton Park, ironically this time I really thing we won't want him back.

Posted 14:03 9th February 2009

James Graham (Portsmouth fan) says...

Tony Adams just hasn't got the tactical abilty to be a premier league manager, as a coach he will be excellent, but just hasn't got that tactical brain to manage at such a high level. Portsmouth were playing in europe in december and now we are looking at relegation a mere 2 months later. I have heard that Kevin Keegan was seen with Peter Storrie in Port Solent Last Week, Keegan on the Fratton PPark touchline? Just Maybe, if not bring in someone like Glenn Hoddle or someone who knows the premiership to keep us up, and give him the £50 million we have generated from player sales since the summer (selling key players) for the new manager to build a new squad and hopefully one that will once again be challenging for european football again!, Play Up Pompey !

Posted 13:56 9th February 2009

Mark Pereira (Portsmouth fan) says...

Very sorry to see him go, as the results weren't directly his fault. Some of the defensive mistakes have been shocking and some players just haven't been giving anything near 100%. What no-one has mentioned has been the effect of all the upheaval at the club and the club being up for sale for most of the season. The players haven't been sure if they were still going to be there at the end of the season and the rumours over who Harry might buy didn't help. However, you may say that he wasn't given a chance, but if you owned the club and were about to lose 30million, would you be so loyal?! I hope Tony gets an opportunately elsewhere, as he is a recent guy, but maybe too nice and hope we now get a manager with proven premiership experience.

Posted 13:53 9th February 2009
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