Derek Adams discusses Bradford City’s lack of structure
Derek Adams still believes he would have taken City into the play-offs—and possibly out of League Two—during his ill-fated time in charge.
The Scot won just nine of his 37 games in an eight-month spell at Valley Parade before being sacked and replaced by Mark Hughes in February 2022.
But the Morecambe boss has repeated his claims that he talked too honestly for the City fans, who didn’t like what they heard.
And, speaking on the latest episode of the Pilgrims Podcast, he criticized the club’s lack of structure behind the scenes.
“Where do you start there?” said Adams when asked by the Plymouth-based program why it had not worked out with the Bantams.
“Bradford City has the biggest support base in the league. It’s one of the smallest clubs in the league.
“It’s got no structure, no idea of its way out, doesn’t own its stadium, doesn’t own its training ground, and has no foundation to it.
“I, like many managers, think they can go there and change it.
“I thought I could; I probably could have. The problem is, you’ve got to keep the supporters onside for long enough.
“I didn’t win enough home games at the time. We drew too many.
“I still think I would have gotten them in the play-offs that season and probably gotten them out.
“But what did I do wrong? I was probably too honest.
“I didn’t do what Bradford City’s Twitter account says every time they get beaten. ‘Sorry supporters’, I didn’t say that enough.”
Support your manager through thick and thin
Adams discussed the financial implications that City face playing at a ground owned by former chairman Gordon Gibb’s family pension fund.
“To be fair to the CEO, Ryan Sparks, he has spent the club’s money on getting new seats for the stadium,” he added.
“They have to spend £500,000 on rent each year just to start the season. They then have to do all the maintenance on that stadium as well, and it’s not easy.
“The best advice I could give to a Bradford City supporter is to support your manager through thick and thin, and eventually you might get through that.
“It’s not just the manager, the CEO, the board of directors… If you’ve got 20 managers over 20 years, your recruitment process or the people at the top… there’s got to be something wrong somewhere.”
Adams, who sarcastically applauded the away end after Morecambe’s 3-0 win over City in August, is due to return to Valley Parade on Boxing Day.
Morecambe are currently seven points above the Bantams in sixth place.
Leave a Reply