Ferdinand: I can learn from Adams

Free-transfer recruit Les Ferdinand is determined to learn the art of management from Leicester boss Micky Adams.

The veteran striker is resigned to this campaign being the last of his 17-year professional career but Ferdinand is already looking beyond the end of his playing days and is pondering a return to the game in a managerial or coaching capacity.

He could do worse than watch Adams in action, a man rated one of the most talented young managers in the country after securing promotions with Fulham, Brighton and Leicester.

Ferdinand said: “Without a shadow of a doubt, coming to work with Micky was a consideration in moving here.

“I’ve been privileged to work with some fantastic managers over the years and I’ve learned things from all of them.

“Now I’ve come to work with Micky and I’m hoping I’ll learn things from him as well. All good things come to an end and this game of football has been very good to me, I’ve been very fortunate. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye but at some stage you have to.

“But I will decide when that’ll be, rather than have someone tap me on the shoulder and say ‘come on Les, it’s time’.

“There are lots of ideas about what I’ll do next, coaching obviously being one of them, but we’ll wait and see how I feel when I finish, I may just take a break and then come back with a bang after that.”

Ferdinand, who earned 17 full England caps, knows there is plenty of hard work to be done on the park before his boots are hung up for good.

The 36-year-old said: “I feel plenty of wear and tear in my body but I can still do a job and if I didn’t think that, I’d call it a day.

“I still have the enthusiasm to come out training every day and I still get that little buzz on a Saturday which is what it’s all about.

“Everyone’s tipping us to be first back down from the Premiership but I had it last year with West Ham and relegation leaves a very bitter taste. I have no intention of tasting it again.

“I’m under no illusions about coming here but among the squad here are players who’ve tasted relegation already and they’re only too keen and determined to stay in this division.

“There are a lot of players here I’ve played with in the past and a lot of the lads have got Premiership experience.

“Plus there’s a few who went down with Leicester and then got them back up again last year, so they’ll be determined not to go back to Division One.”