Derek Adams sacked as Bradford City manager as "obvious" boast backfires

Derek Adams has been axed by Bradford City despite a boastful claim that they will not find a manager as successful as him.

The Scot has been given the chop by the Bantams after just eight months in the post.

The final straw for the League Two club's board was a 1-0 defeat at home to Exeter City last Saturday. That extended a poor run of just one win in five games, with City eight points adrift of the League Two play-off spots.

The decision to axe Adams came just days after he told local radio that the club would not find a better manager than him in the fourth tier.

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Adams got Plymouth Argyle out of League Two in 2017 and then led Morecambe to a shock promotion last season.

Adams then walked out on Morecambe just a day after beating Newport County in the play-off final at Wembley, to take up the Bradford job.

Speaking before his departure from the Utilita Energy Stadium was confirmed, Adams told BBC Radio Leeds: "If they're going to get a new manager in they're not going to get a manager as successful as myself in the door.

"That's obvious to everyone, because my record is up there with everyone's in League Two.

"If they want to do that (sack) then that's up to the football club, but I came to Bradford City from a League One club, to a League Two club to try to help them get out.

"I took a risk coming to this club. I gained promotion with Morecambe last season and Plymouth Argyle a few seasons before.

"When a football club is down on its luck for so many years, it's a difficult thing to turn very quickly.

"We put pressure on ourselves by saying we want promotion out of this league this season, but we still want to do that."

That opportunity to turn it around did not come however.

On Tuesday morning, City's CEO Ryan Sparks posted a statement on the club website confirming the end of Adams' reign in West Yorkshire.

Sparks said: "On behalf of the board, it is with deep regret that we have come to the decision to part company with Derek Adams.

"A sustained period of consideration has led to this decision and it is felt that, with all things taken into account, the club must move in a different direction with regards to the role of first-team manager.

"We would like to thank Derek for his efforts while at Valley Parade, and wish him the very best for the future."

Assistant manager Mark Trueman will take charge for Saturday's game with Oldham Athletic.

Bradford are in their third straight season in League Two.