Micky Adams - Micky Adams

I was Nottingham Forests manager when I first really got to know Micky back in 1998. I knew his history as a player, obviously, but I didnt know the man himself until one of my old players, Alan Cork, recommended him when I was looking for a first-team coach.

Micky had been a manager himself, but was out of work after leaving Brentford. I was looking for someone who was better placed to connect with the players than I was. I needed someone they could relate to.

It was a good fit. I knew I had made the right decision because of the speed with which he became respected by the first-team squad. He took pride in his job and had enthusiasm and passion in equal measure. As I got to know him better, I saw more of his mischievous nature and an anger that burned deep inside.

It was obvious he was hard working and conscientious, and he also had other attributes that make a successful manager. He was never afraid to say what he thought, especially if a player was shirking his responsibility.

However, he had his work cut out with Pierre van Hooijdonk. The Dutch striker had thrown a huge spanner in the works when he went on strike shortly after we had won promotion to the Premier League.

I tried to get through to van Hooijdonk, because he would have been a help for us in the Premier League. But I just couldnt.

When the Dutchman eventually returned, I used to send him away from the main group to practise his free-kicks with Micky. This was an opportunity for Micky to wind up Nottingham Forests forward, although Im not sure van Hooijdonk had a clue what was going on.

Micky used to tell him about the great free-kicks he had scored at places such as Stevenage and Ashford, but it went straight over the Dutchmans head.

I enjoyed working with Micky, both at Forest and later at Leicester. I still miss the verbal jousting, warmth and humour. There was a lot of amusement and fun with childish, caustic banter and camaraderie.

One incident in particular sticks in my mind. I took him from Brighton, looking for him to be groomed as my successor at the King Power Stadium.

We would have staff games in the gym every Friday afternoon and drag everyone in. Somehow, Muzzy Izzet ended up playing when he was coming back from injury. Obviously, he was fitter, younger and miles better than everyone else.

Anyway, Mickys team is losing. And Muzzy, not to put too fine a point on it, is taking the piss.

Leicesters Academy staff members Steve Beaglehole and Jon Rudkin were playing, along with some of the staff and one of the chefs from the canteen. Mick used to wind it all up. In the end I used to go in goal, because it all used to kick off. And this particular afternoon it kicked off properly, too.

All of a sudden, Micky shouted Bury that c**t, chef, hes taking the piss, when he was chasing down Muzzy. The next second, Leicester Citys star midfielder is flying through the air after being booted by a member of the kitchen staff.

How would that look in a press conference, explaining away why your star midfielder had suffered a set-back in his rehabilitation?

The true answer would have been because the club chef smashed him to kingdom come in a Friday afternoon kick about after being goaded by the assistant manager. But Im not sure we could have told the media that; we would have been a laughing stock.

At Leicester, I felt Micky stepped out of line and put me under pressure. I was disappointed that he was in such a hurry to be a manager. He was a young man and was frustrated.

Behind the scenes, I think he was egged on by people who wanted him to be in charge. They saw him as the future. I stand by what I thought back then, which was that he would have been far better staying in the background for another season or two and then taking over.

As it was, Leicesters relegation from the Premier League affected him more than I thought it would. It was clear to me that his confidence had been knocked. What happened at Fulham, Brentford and Swansea City was out of his control.

His decision to leave Leicester was a dreadful one. I had a row with him over it but couldnt change his mind. I battled like hell to keep him there. It upset me when he left because it was unnecessary. No one wanted him to go, me least of all.

It was the wrong time for him to go to Sheffield United, too. I know he thought the chance wouldnt come around again, but looking back now, it would have done. I know he would have done it justice. Of course, hindsight is a great thing. Whats done is done. Everyone makes mistakes and sometimes you follow your hunch in football.

Irrespective of those blips, Mickys been successful. Certainly by the yardstick of many current managers who have little of any note on their career records. He has four promotions, has managed a lot of games and has survived for a long time.

Hes old school. He started ever so young, hes been around. Supporters warm to him because he doesnt give them any flannel. If any side of Mickys has played poorly, or has not put in a shift, then he will tell them the truth.

Im glad I worked with him. Managers dont have a laugh like we did, going out and taking the piss out of each other morning, noon and night or having a drink and putting the world to rights.

Im sure this book will reveal what I know about the man: his warmth, his humour, his loyalty, his love of football and, above all, his honesty.

Dave Bassett, May 2017