Tony Adams has been sacked as Portsmouth boss after just 15 weeks in charge.
Anxious Fratton owner Alexandre Gaydamak called time on Adams’ brief reign, even though he gave assurances just a week ago that the former Arsenal star would be in charge at least until the end of the season.
Russian Gaydamak, who is currently trying to sell the club, fears he will never find a buyer if Pompey are relegated from the Premier League. And he decided to swing the axe before the team were plunged into the bottom three.
Adams, 42, was officially appointed on October 28 following Harry Redknapp’s controversial decision to move to Spurs. But the team managed just two wins in 15 league games under his leadership and they have plunged from seventh place in the table to 16th, just one point above the relegation zone.
Ironically, his first and last league games in charge were against Liverpool. The Fratton Park outfit lost 1-0 at Anfield and 3-2 at home on Saturday evening.
Portsmouth have not won a league game since November and took just 10 points with the former Arsenal and England defender as their manager. They were also knocked out of the FA Cup, which they won under Redknapp last season, to Championship Swansea and have been were dumped out of the UEFA Cup.
A club source said last night:
“Tony was told about the decision in a phone call from the chief executive on Sunday afternoon. It came as a complete surprise to him as he had previously been told he was safe until the end of the season. But Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by Liverpool has left the club too close to the bottom three for comfort and the owner has reluctantly decided something had to change.”
Pompey coaches Paul Hart and Guy Whittingham have been placed in temporary charge of team affairs. But Gaydamak hopes to have a new boss in place before Saturday’s crucial home game against Manchester City.
