Source: Telegraph
Tony Adams remains resolute as Alan Curbishley waits in wings
Portsmouth v LiverpoolKick-off: Sat Feb 7, 5.30pm; Fratton Park, PortsmouthTV: Setanta Sports 1Radio: Radio 5 Live [LNB]The club have fiercely denied reports that former Charlton and West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is lined up to take over of the south coast club in place of Adams, who has won only two of 15 league games since he succeeded Harry Redknapp at the Pompey helm in October. [LNB]Former Arsenal and England captain Adams still believes he has the backing of Portsmouth owner Sacha Gaydamak despite six defeats in the last seven Premier League games. [LNB]Adams said: "It's not my job to focus on what the newspapers say. My job is the manager of Portsmouth Football Club and I'll continue to do that until they tell me they don't want me. [LNB]"I've had regular conversations with the owner in the last few days, particularly on Sunday when I was at the club all day with the transfer window and he was there wanting to know all that was going on. But there has been no suggestion they don't want me to just get on with it." [LNB]Adams has confirmed that hard words were said in the dressing room between him and his team following last Saturday's dismal 3-1 defeat at Fulham and that he was abused by "a couple of fans" as he walked towards the team bus after the game. [LNB]He said: "Yes it hurt to hear that from what you think are your own people. It never happened to me at Arsenal or Wycombe even though I got used to being abused by opposition. But here I still believe the majority understand the situation we are in and how things have changed at the club. [LNB]"All I can do is keep working hard out on the training pitch and try to get the best out of this group of players. To be fair the staff all seem up for it. They are excellent - bright and positive and upbeat. Now we must stay strong, believe and start getting the right results again. [LNB]"Those results have not been good and our form has been indifferent. I think I can revive a lot of things at the end of the season here. Sure, I've felt fear and pressure before in my career but I don't feel those things now." [LNB]Peter Crouch, Pompey's £9 million summer signing from Liverpool, has scored 13 goals since moving from Anfield but will be looking for his first in the league for two months against his old employers tomorrow but is adamant the most important thing is "us getting something out of the game". [LNB]He admitted: "After the Fulham match there was a bit of a ruck in the dressing room to be honest. There were strong words and people said what they thought but I believe that is a positive thing. [LNB]"We know as players that the way we have been playing recently has got to improve and we've had other meetings between ourselves since then and some of them with the manager as well." [LNB]The 6ft 7in front man added: "We are looking for a way of turning things around and easing the pressure on him (Adams). Inevitably when things go against you it is the manager that gets everything thrown at him but I think we realise that it is only the players who can make a difference on the field. [LNB]"Considering the ones he has lost it would not be surprising to see anybody struggle, but we do have sympathy for him and feel it is up to us to help." [LNB]Pompey sold Crouch's prolific strike partner Jermain Defoe back to Tottenham in the January transfer window having already received a £20 million fee for midfielder Lassana Diarra from Real Madrid but Adams, who say he was initially told by the Pompey board that any money received would be ploughed back into his own transfer budget, now claims he was informed in mid-December that this would no longer be the case. [LNB]He said: "I accepted that because I think the club has been very honest over their finances. The owner made it clear a while ago he wouldn't be investing any more."[LNB]
