Adams: 'I'm coming to get Arsene'
Updated on 28 October 2008
At a press conference to announce his appointment as new Portsmouth manager, Tony Adams sets his sights on the Arsenal boss.
Tony Adams warned mentor Arsene Wenger that he is "coming to get him" as he was unveiled as Portsmouth's new boss today.
Adams - who signed a two-and-a-half year deal to become the south coast club's new manager - revealed he spoke to the Arsenal manager after making the decision to become a Premiership manager yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference at Fratton Park today, Adams said: "I spoke to Arsene last night and I asked him if he was scared. He asked 'scared of what'?"
'It's a great opportunity and one I would have been mad to turn down.'Tony Adams, new Portsmouth manager
"I told him it was me he should be scared of because I was coming to get him!"
Adams will step up to the top job at Portsmouth after having been an assistant manager under Harry Redknapp, who left for Spurs at the weekend.
Adams said: "I'm very honoured to get this job, it's a great opportunity and one I would have been mad to turn down. I am very excited and I can't wait to get going."
The former Arsenal skipper said any plans by Redknapp to raid his former club - for stars such as Jermain Defoe - would be resisted.
Adams's appointment takes the number of English managers in the top flight to 11.
He said: "I will fight him [Redknapp]. That's my job. There are good players here and Harry will probably want some of them - so will a lot of other managers - but it's my job to try and keep them here."
Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie refused to answer questions about the state of the club's finances, saying the issue had been made clear and was "boring".
Adams said: "I just felt it was the right time for me to make the next step. Ideally it would have been at the start of next season maybe, but it's happening now.
"I have had great support from the owner, Peter [Storrie], the wife and the players in making this decision. The fans were great at the weekend too - although maybe they won't still be singing my name if we don't win a few games!
"The fans here are my sort of people - they are working class people who want to see entertaining football and commitment. That's what I like."
Adams's appointment takes the number of English managers in the top flight to 11. He declined to comment on whether former teammate Martin Keown would be joining him on the coaching staff at Fratton Park, but said he would be doing everything he could to convince Joe Jordan to stay.
