Port Vale: Gills switch? That's news to me, declares Adams

MICKY Adams insists he is still committed to Port Vale after the club refused Gillingham permission to speak to him about their vacant manager's position.

Adams is clear favourite with the bookies to be appointed at Priestfield, where the 50-year-old started his playing career in 1979.

Vale announced yesterday that there had been an approach for Adams, although that was quickly denied by Gills chairman Paul Scally, a friend of the Vale boss.

Adams, who arrived back at Vale Park for a second spell in charge 13 months ago, last night stood by previous comments when he refuted any desire to move south.

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"I'm still the manager at Port Vale and I'm happy at the club. The situation has not changed," he said.

"I'm trying to enjoy a holiday, and talk about Gillingham making an approach was news to me. As far as I'm concerned, that's that."

Prospective Vale owner Keith Ryder has already said he is looking forward to working with Adams, and has promised him an improved budget to finance a promotion push next season.

And after moving quickly to rebuff any interest in Adams from Vale's League Two rivals, Ryder said: "Micky is an integral part of what we are trying to build at Port Vale and, to my knowledge, he has no desire to leave."

The Sentinel exclusively revealed last month that Gillingham were keen to take Adams back to Kent.

However, Scally, who is looking for a replacement for Andy Hessenthaler, was quick to pour cold water on Vale's claim that he had tried to speak to Adams. He told BBC Radio Kent it was "complete rubbish", but refused to say who his actual managerial targets were.

Adams, meanwhile, continues to plan for the future, even though he cannot commence his summer rebuilding programme until Vale come out of administration.

Ryder, whose £1.3m bid to buy the club was approved by creditors last month, had hoped his takeover would be ratified by the Football League board on Wednesday.

Instead, he has been asked for more information on his plans for the club, meaning it could be three weeks before the deal is finally cleared and Vale's transfer restrictions lifted.

Adams denied it was a setback. He said: "The time scale has not altered. You cannot exchange player contracts until July 1, and that has not changed. I'm still speaking to players all the time and that will continue."