FOOTBALL: Adams on the brink

MICKYADAMS is considering his future at scandal-hit Leicester. Three of his players are locked up in a Spanish jail with sex offenders. And Adams flew back to Luton late on Friday and spent the weekend in discussions with his family. His gut reaction was to quit immediately after nine of his players - who deny all charges - were initially arrested in La Manga onTuesday following serious sexual allegations by three women. A friend said: "Micky was absolutely devastated when the players were arrested and considered quitting there and then. "He was beside himself and felt he had been kicked in the teeth and betrayed by his own players. And only the intervention of coaching staff and Leicester chief executive Tim Davies prevented him from walking out immediately."

But while Leicester's legal experts were last night battling to secure the release of Paul Dickov, Keith Gillespie and Frank Sinclair, Adams was still contemplating whether to tender his resignation.

The crisis which has dragged football into the gutter has torn Adams apart.

After arriving in Spain with the squad to train in the sun and alleviate the pressure of a relegation battle, he had stressed to the players on a number of occasions that they must be on their best behaviour.

He was mindful of events four years ago when the entire squad were thrown out of the same resort when Stan Collymore let off a fire- extinguisher.

Adams put his trust in the squad and took a gamble that backfired with devastating repercussions.

He is due to speak publicly about events in Spain for the first time at the Walkers Stadium tomorrow, but there are now growing fears it could be his farewell speech.

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