Adams: Stars will do right thing over pay

MICKY ADAMS says he is not surprised the Premier League’s stars took a pay hit – and defended them over criticism they took too long to act.

The former Leicester City boss has backed the game’s elite players after flak rained down on them over their failure to agree a wage drop.

It was announced on Friday that Premier League management and players are discussing a 30 per cent cut or deferral to their salaries amid rising hostility from the public and MPS.

Adams had to ask the same from his own squad as the Foxes faced financial ruin when the club went into administration in 2002 with debts of £30million.

As manager he laid it on the line during a tense post-match meeting in the dressing room at Old Trafford.

Threat

they are being told. What I found with Leicester is that we had no time to prepare.

“Even 48 hours before administration hit, I was being told by a senior official it wasn’t on the cards.

“And I suspect that’s what’s been happening with the lads in the Premier League. They’re not getting the full picture.

“But they can only make a decision when the situation is spelled out in front of them.

“What was a big issue at Leicester – and later at Port Vale when we went into administration on the day the players should have been paid – was that it was just dropped on us from a great height.

“We really needed more time to prepare and work out the options. I suspect that’s been the case with the players.”

However, Adams (below) said that football needs to gain a sense of perspective amid the current crisis with Covid-19.

He added: “Football is just a sport. I know it means a lot to a lot of people.

“But there’s going to be a knock-on effect if it doesn’t, as an industry, do the right thing.

“The bigger picture is that people are losing their livelihoods, their possessions and suffering real hardship.

“You would really hope that some of the top players wouldn’t get too precious if they did lose a few quid.”