Adams sacked after 24 games as Sheffield United plan player exodus

SHEFFIELD United last night sacked manager Micky Adams.

The Blades pulled the plug on Adams just 10 days after relegation from the Championship.

Adams, a lifelong supporter of the club, had only been in charge for 24 games but had won only four times.

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And his departure was announced only 24 hours after chairman Kevin McCabe had expressed ‘shame’ at the Bramall Lane club’s decline.

Late last night it also appeared that chief executive Trevor Birch was set to follow Adams out of the club.

McCabe had been holding talks with Adams for the last two days as part of a post mortem into the club’s relegation.

Ironically, results and performances had improved in the final weeks of the season and there had been no sign of dissent towards Adams from the club’s supporters.

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But McCabe, who is now planning a firesale of top players in order to reduce the club’s £12m wage bill and avoid a financial crisis at Bramall Lane, had evidently lost faith.

The Blades are now looking for their fifth manager in less than nine months after sacking Kevin Blackwell last August, losing Gary Speed to the Wales job in December, and overlooking the claims of caretaker manager John Carver.

Both Adams and his assistant Alan Cork have now gone while Dave Bassett, who returned to Bramall Lane as a football advisor, is also expected to leave.

“It is always difficult when managers leave because usually it occurs when a team has been in trouble, but this decision has been made as amicably as possible between us all,” said McCabe.

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“Micky is an honourable, hard-working and honest man who has had difficult circumstances to deal with from the moment he came in. The task was a big one and no-one, least of all myself, can criticise the effort he and Alan put in to turn around what was already an awkward season for us.

“He made it clear that he wanted the chance to lead us next season but the fact remains that we have been relegated.

“There will have to be changes in player personnel in the summer, young players will have to be given their opportunities at the right time, and prudent recruitment implemented for what will be a really tough division to get out of,” he added.

“With that in mind I feel that in order to give ourselves the best opportunity we should make a clean sweep at the top and start afresh next season.”

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With no pressure for results, the Blades at least have time to look around and get the right man.

Adams, meanwhile, has expressed his disappointment at the decision and thanked the club’s supporters for their loyalty.

“Obviously I am very, very disappointed with the decision but I still wish Sheffield United all the best,” said Adams.

“I am a Blade and will always be a Blade so I am just sorry that my move here has not worked out.

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“I pass on my thanks to the fans and would still like to think that they regard me as one of them,” he said.

“To carry the support of so many of them in some pretty dark days was very much appreciated. But most of all I wish the McCabes well.

“If anyone deserves success it is Kevin and his family.”

Only four years ago, the Blades were playing in the Premier League but they are now preparing for life in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1988.

McCabe is still weighing up other big changes at the club this week and there is a shadow hanging over jobs in all departments at Bramall Lane.

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Decisions have still to be announced on the futures of the club’s playing staff although only three members of the first-team squad are out of contract.

Academy manager John Pemberton, who has steered the club’s youngsters into the final of this season’s FA Youth Cup, is likely to be among the early front-runners for the vacant manager’s position.

United’s youngsters are expected to have the support of more than 16,000 supporters next week when they host Manchester United in the first leg of the final.

The Blades have allowed season ticket holders to claim two free tickets for the game while admission for other supporters is just £3 for adults and £1 concessions.

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It is the first time that the Blades have reached the final of a competition which is traditionally dominated by teams from the Premier League.

Several members of the side have have stepped up to appear for the first team in this troubled season including defender Harry Maguire, striker Jordan Slew and goalkeeper George Long.

“We have a fantastic set of youth players,” added McCabe.

“I didn’t realise the crop of youngsters we had here were so talented but the proof is in the pudding.

“We want to believe every youngster is going to be a star but, not all these kids will succeed but with good coaching and good management, I expect to see many of them being first-team players for Sheffield United in the not too distant future.”

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