Players ‘desperate’ for Adams to stay

The pressure to secure manager Micky Adams’ future grows as star striker Tom Pope tells the Sentinel that the players are “desperate” for Adams to stay.

I think all the fans know how important he is to this club, and from a players’ point of view we agree with that…

Adams’ contract finishes at the end of the season and after last season’s promotion and a better than expected return to League One, most fans are keen for Adams’ future to be settled sooner rather than later.

Adams was linked with the vacant Blackpool job this week but despite owner Norman Smurthwaite stating he was confident of a deal being reached with Adams, the Vale manager insisted that “there is nothing on paper in front of me to suggest there is anything there to sign”

Striker Pope told the newspaper: “I think all the fans know how important he is to this club, and from a players’ point of view we agree with that.

“I think what he has done for this club has been amazing and I think every player in the squad, even if they aren’t playing, appreciates him. That’s not only as a manager but as a person as well.

“You know with Micky Adams you are always going to have a chance and a second chance. If you have a bad run of form and find yourself on the bench, you know with a couple of injuries or bad performances, you are back in the reckoning.

“We are desperate for him to stay. He has done a great job with everybody personally and with the club as well, so we hope something can get sorted.”

Pope’s views echo those of the majority of supporters and probably the most popular thing that Norman Smurthwaite could do during his short time in sole command of the club would be to reach agreement with Vale’s popular manager.