“More than a manager…”
Norman Smurthwaite has told a press conference that Micky Adams did more than manage and helped bring money into the club.
In a tribute to Adams, Smurthwaite told the media that “He was my CEO of football, a title he loved. He was more than a manager. He brought revenue in.
He was my CEO of football, a title he loved. He was more than a manager. He brought revenue in…
“Part of his contract included remuneration when the club was sold and I expected to leave the club before him. Having spent the previous 12 months firefighting, Micky Adams managed the squad, did everything and more.
“Micky used his contacts to get a deal with Errea. If he hadn’t done that it would have had a massive impact. He brought in GMB, the shirt sponsors. How many managers do that? Normally managers just spend money, not bring money in.”
In hindsight I think the loss of Doug Loft really hit him, although he did well to hide it…
Smurthwaite also felt that the loss of captain Doug Loft was a key factor adding: “In hindsight I think the loss of Doug Loft really hit him, although he did well to hide it. ”
And the owner revealed some regrets commenting: “I’ve failed this club twice. The first failing was on the day I came in I wasn’t strong for Micky. We didn’t have a youth team as such… But my first major failing was not to confront Micky to keep Sam Morsy. I should have stood my ground and kept him here. I believe it’s kids like Sam Morsy who will take the club forward.
“The second one was that Micky never felt he had the tenure to bring kids in, develop them on. He needed results. I feel that was something I should have addressed. If we had that going and he had the confidence we could work with that programme, we could have been looking at what we were going to achieve as a club. I now realise that four weeks ago he was asking me to help and I didn’t pick it up.”