LONDON (AP):

Tony Adams yesterday became the latest England captain to flop as a topflight club manager when Premier League side Portsmouth announced he had been fired after four months in charge.

The 42-year-old former Arsenal defender, who took over after Harry Redknapp moved to Tottenham, follows in the long line of England stars who failed to succeed as managers.

Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson and, more recently, Blackburn's Paul Ince were among those who struggled as managers. Ince was sacked in December, and Adams became the seventh Premier League manager to leave this season.

Learning experience

"It's not turned me off management I just have to make sure I get all the parameters sorted out before I walk into the next one," Adams said. "I've have seven years now in my coaching and management positions and it's all learning.

"In an ideal world I would go in at the beginning of the season - you get your group of players, you get a fair budget for the league and realistic expectations. It has certainly not been my case."

Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant, who had a spell as technical director at Portsmouth, was named in the media as a leading contender to replace Adams at Fratton Park, but the bookmakers made former Charlton and West Ham manager Alan Curbishley the favourite.

Adams guided Pompey to only two points from a possible 27 in their last nine Premier League games.

"I am a little bit surprised but results haven't been good," Adams said. "I haven't had a lot of time here and I certainly haven't had the financial backing - that's tough to take. We've had a few injuries as well."

Knocked out

The club has also been knocked out of all cup competitions, including the UEFA Cup.

"The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period where results have been poor," the club said in a statement on its website. "The team has played well, but too many points have been dropped from winning positions."

Assistant Johnny Metgod was also fired.

The club's director of youth operations, former Nottingham Forest boss Paul Hart, will serve as caretaker manager until a replacement is found.

Portsmouth are 16th in the league standings, one point above the relegation zone, after losing 3-2 at home to Liverpool on Saturday.

Adams, who was Redknapp's assistant and helped take Portsmouth to an FA Cup final triumph last season and 10th place in the Premier League, won only two out of 16 league games after taking over in October on a 2-1/2 year contract at Fratton Park.