“Tony Adams”, it’s been a while since you heard his name? He’s raking in a giant £1 million pound a year deal at Azerbaijan club Gabala FC.
After an abysmal time in management at Portsmouth, Gabala clearly thought that Adams was worth a cool million and so he has proved, or has he?
Leading Gabala to 7th in his first season, Adams currently has his side placed 6th after eleven matches in the Azerbaijani Premier Division. I hasten to add that the Azerbaijani league has a mere 12 teams in the league.
However, if Adams can rally his troops and get them into a top three finish at the end of the season, we could soon see him in European action. Finishing 1st secures a coveted Champions League spot while 2nd and 3rd grabs a lucrative Europa League place. None of the Azerbaijan sides reached the group stage of this year’s Europa League so Adams faces a tough challenge ahead.
Gabala do have a notable player on their books though, one Deon Burton, the 35 year old journeyman has netted just three goals for Gabala this season and will need to be finding the net a lot if Adams is to achieve a high finish in the league this campaign.
Gabala, or Qəbələ as they are known in their homeland, face 10th placed Azal on Friday before a home fixture against 2nd placed Neftci which will surely test the side who have won just one of their last five and lost their last two on the bounce.
Quite what Tony Adams’ hopes are other than to let the cash flow steadily into his bank account is unbeknown, hopefully England will one day see the return of Adams in a managerial presence, although I’m sure many Gunners fans will be praying it’s not with a return to the red of North London anytime soon.
WTTGT Writer: Jake Harvey