Leicester boss Micky Adams has had no shortage of off-the-field trauma during his managerial career. One of the Premiership's brightest young managers, he travelled a rocky road to reach top-flight management.
His latest test is to deal with the events in La Manga that have seen sexual assault charges brought against three of his players.
Whatever happens next in the case, the incident has been a kick in the teeth for Adams, who trusted senior members of his squad to behave while in Spain.
So whether or not any of the players are found guilty Adams will feel let down by the people he works closest with.
It is a first for a man who has previously only had trouble with men above, not below him, since hanging up his boots.
Taking charge of Fulham in 1996, his first managerial post, he led them out of Division Three in his first season, only to fall victim to Mohamed al Fayed's vision for the future.
Al Fayed wanted a big name to take the club forward, and replaced Adams with Ray Wilkins early in the following campaign before he had a chance to prove himself.
Soon after came a bewildering 13-day stint with Swansea which ended when funds promised by the board on his appointment failed to materialise.
Adams' next move in 1997 was back to the capital to try to keep Brentford in Division Two.
He failed, but worse was to come the following summer when ex-Crystal Palace supremo Ron Noades bought the Bees and promptly replaced Adams - with himself.
 | MICKY ADAMS FACTFILE Aug 1996: Fulham hand him his first managerial post Sep 1997: Sacked after winning promotion from Div Three Oct 1997: In charge at Swansea for three games Nov 1997: Appointed by Brentford Jul 1998: Replaced by Bees owner Ron Noades Jan 1999: Caretaker boss at Nottingham Forest April 1999: Named new manager of Brighton May 2001: Wins the Division Three title Oct 2001: Joins Leicester as assistant boss Jul 2002: Replaces Dave Bassett as Foxes manager May 2003: Leads Leicester back into the Premiership |
After two surprising sackings in two years, Adams understandably took a step back, but his next move did not work out either.
Dave Bassett took him to Nottingham Forest as part of his backroom team - but did not last long before getting the boot, and Adams swiftly followed him out of the door.
Next stop was Brighton, and it was with the Seagulls that Adams rebuilt his reputation.
After a mid-table finish in his first full season, he spotted the potential in a raw young striker named Bobby Zamora - and 31 goals later, Brighton had won the Third Division championship.
Following that success, Adams' Premiership ambitions re-surfaced.
He chose to rejoin Bassett at Leicester, again as number two, but with an unwritten clause in his contract that he would eventually succeed his mentor.
That happened sooner than both of them may have thought.
Bassett moved upstairs to become Director of Football before the season was out, with the Foxes rock-bottom of the table.
This time Adams was given his chance, although staying in the Premiership was already a lost cause.
The club's dire financial situation threatened its entire existence during that time - but that uncertainty did not stop them winning automatic promotion.
Adams has won yet more plaudits this season despite a shoestring budget.
He managed to instill a team mentality that means the Foxes are still in with a fighting chance of staying in the Premiership.
However, the events in Spain have already undermined those efforts - and the full consequences for Adams and the club are still unknown.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
