Sorry Micky, you can’t keep us in suspense
Rob Fielding argues that it’s not in the club’s interests to delay a decision on Micky Adams’ future until the end of the season.
Rob Fielding writes…
Presuming the club actually have a physical contract to offer Adams (and that alone is a matter of some considerable debate) then the club needs to be setting the agenda on contract talks…
While I can understand, at least to some extent, why Micky Adams may be feeling somewhat aggrieved right now, I cannot agree with his statement that when it comes to his future at Vale Park that “I might as well leave it to the end of the season.”
First of all, it shouldn’t be Adams’ decision as to when the talks take place and end.
Presuming the club actually have a physical contract to offer Adams (and that alone is a matter of some considerable debate) then the club needs to be setting the agenda on contract talks.
After all, this is not just Adams’ future in the balance. It would be entirely understandable if the 14 out-of-contract players will also stall on any contract talks if they are uncertain who the manager will be next season.
We simply cannot “leave it to the end of the season.” A delay of that sort would potentially allow approaches from other clubs for manager and players and prolonged negotiations would eat into Vale’s pre-season preparations…
With 15 key staff on the agenda, we simply cannot “leave it to the end of the season.” A delay of that sort would potentially allow approaches from other clubs for manager and players and prolonged negotiations would eat into Vale’s pre-season preparations.
I originally suggested that the club sort out Adams’ contract by the end of 2013 (in time for the January transfer window) but with that date gone, I would suggest the club need to have had contract talks with Adams and all the out of contract players by the end of this season.
My advice to the club would be to get a contract offered to Adams as soon as possible – hopefully next week – and give him two weeks to either sign it or not. I have a lot of respect for Adams and I’d personally like him to stay but this saga is dragging on and on and there has to be a resolution. No-one is bigger than the club and if Adams isn’t happy for whatever reason he needs to leave on Vale’s terms, not his own.
By setting a deadline, it allows for either Adams to commit his future or for the club to rapidly move on (presumably Rob Page would be favourite to take over if Adams doesn’t sign).
Either way – that deadline will then allow the club to either open talks with the key players with the manager committed to the club – or – move to appoint a new manager and seek talks with the players as soon as the new man is appointed.
So, to answer Adams’ comments from earlier in the week – no, Micky, you can’t keep us all in suspense.