It is unlikely Micky Adams failed to appreciate the irony. Back in August, it was Brighton, the side he had left for bigger and better things, who began the endgame of his time at Leicester City. A sluggish start to the season could have been put behind the Foxes with a widely-predicted win over the struggling opposition, but instead one of the youngsters Adams had blooded at his former club struck to give the visitors a surprise win.

From there, his side never really managed to reverse the slide with any conviction, certainly not enough as to suggest that the expected promotion challenge would materialise. Adams probably knew it wasn’t going to get much better when his charges were denied only their second home win of the season by a pitch-length goal from Preston ‘keeper Andy Lonergan.
The surprise for most fans, not least of Brighton, was not the timing of his resignation last week, rather that he failed at all in his task at the Walkers Stadium. Although the relegation from the Premiership was not unexpected, and it would be harsh to judge him negatively on that, the struggle in the Championship was not an anticipated one; especially given Adams is a manager who has built his reputation in what used to be the Nationwide leagues.

It seems it was less the results that hurt him than his belief that he was capable of turning the disappointing start around. The recovery has been patchy, but his side are only four points off the play-offs – hardly an impossible target with a strong squad and two thirds of the season to go, yet Micky decided the time had come to go.

Where his relationship with the players and cultivation of a strong team spirit had been one of his greatest triumphs on the south coast, these seemed missing in the midlands. He fell out with Martin Keown, his most high-profile signing of the summer, and subsequently placed the player on the transfer list, available on a free, although after Adams’ departure, Keown may well stay at the club. The well-documented episodes of last year in La Manga served to further damage the squad/manager respect, and although only Keith Gillespie of the three main wrong-doers remains at the club, the shadow of the episode seemed to hang over the club long after the media rumpus faded.

Where fall-outs occurred at the Albion, the players concerned inevitably lost out – Messrs Cameron, Arnott and Wicks all left under their respective clouds, and judging by their achievements since then, their boss has been proved right. This doubtless gained Adams respect amongst the dressing room, and ensured that those under him wanted to give their all for the club – perhaps the Premiership egos and the wages that went with them made such an exercise impossible at Leicester.

Fans of the club are seemingly in agreement over his departure – “It was right that he left, things weren't working out this season … I think the weight of expectation was too much on him” – the words of one supporter. Another adds: “I think he had just had enough to be honest - it was probably best for both of us. I am really sad to see it happen … Micky is a decent and very genuine man”.

Adams’ preference for a long-ball game and his over-reliance on aging, if experienced, players frustrated the fans, yet he leaves with the customary good wishes that he seems to be collecting from his former clubs. A liked and respected man amongst supporters, it is unlikely to be long before a chairman with similar feelings offers him a route back into the game, if he chooses to take it.

One can only hope that he will keep in mind his own oft-quoted mantra

...Keep the faith.