Adam determined to prove worth to next Anfield boss
CHARLIE ADAM admits he was shocked by Kenny Dalglish’s sacking, but is vowing to impress his Liverpool successor.
Anfield legend Dalglish was axed at the end of the season, with Wigan’s Roberto Martinez now very much in the frame to take over the reins of the famous club.
Adam was handed a dream move to Liverpool last summer when Dalglish splashed out £7million to lure the former Rangers man away from relegated Blackpool.
The 26-year-old is approaching full fitness again after being sidelined for the latter part of the season with a knee injury which also kept him out of the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
And Adam is now aiming to catch the eye of whoever is handed the Anfield job.
‘Kenny Dalglish was a major factor in me going to Liverpool,’ said Adam. ‘He brought me to the club but now he’s gone, so we have to move on.
‘I was surprised when he went but the owners make that decision on what they feel.
‘They have been first class since they came in and have put a lot of money into the club.
‘Now we have to turn our thoughts to the future. Whoever comes in will be a top manager because he’ll be working with top players.
‘It’s one of the best jobs in English football, so it will be very attractive to a lot of people.
‘Personally, I’m just trying to enjoy my holiday and not bother too much about the speculation.
‘The most important thing is getting back on the pitch and playing again, because I missed eight weeks towards the end of the season, as well as a cup final, and couldn’t help the lads push to where we wanted to go.
‘So I just want to be fit to show the new man what I can do.
‘I was busy working last week at Liverpool getting fit, so I’ll be fine for the start of pre-season.
FUtUre FOcUs:
‘I’m back in on July 2 — a week ahead of everyone else — because I missed two months of the season and will be going for it.’
Adam was loving life in his first season at Anfield until injury struck in March. The midfielder knew he was joining a massive club when he moved from Blackpool but insists it was even bigger than he’d imagined.
He added: ‘People support Liverpool all over the world but it’s only when you actually work there that you realise how big the club actually is.
‘It shocked me, to be honest. I was at a big club in Rangers but Liverpool are absolutely massive.
‘When we went to Asia last year, we had 80,000 fans watching us at a training game. Where else do you get that in the world?
‘It’s a worldwide club and it’s just great to be part of it.
‘We’re going to America on tour in the summer, a place where we’ve also go huge amounts of followers.’
Adam, who would have been involved in Scotland’s friendly with the USA had it not been for injury, still has a soft spot for his old club Rangers, who find themselves in the midst of a fullblown crisis.
The Ibrox side are currently contesting the 12-month transfer embargo placed on them by the SFA but Adam reckons it’s time to accept their fate and try to build for the future.
‘Everyone knows Rangers made mistakes,’ said Adam. ‘I still speak to some of the players and I feel sorry for them and the people who work at the club.
‘At the end of the day, they’ll come through it a better and stronger club.
‘It’s not for me to say what their punishment should be. The SFA have made that decision and they are in charge.
‘I think everyone should move on and look to next season.
‘There’s now a good opportunity for the younger lads there — through the transfer embargo — who wouldn’t otherwise have been given a chance if Rangers had money to spend.
‘So there is always an opportunity in every situation depending on how you look at it.’
lAdam was speaking at Radio Tay’s Cash for Kids promotion yesterday in Dundee.