NICKY Adams believes Steven Schumacher will lead Bolton Wanderers into a “bright future” after his appointment last week.
The veteran Bury midfielder, who played under the new head coach at Gigg Lane after he had finished playing and stepped into the dugout to assist Ryan Lowe, has backed him to help Bolton realise their target of Championship football.
Adams, the Breightmet lad who has racked up nearly 800 career appearances to date, has recently returned to Bury to help them in their efforts to escape the North West Counties League.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, he says the decision to bring in his former team-mate to replace Ian Evatt will be a good one.
“It’s a really good appointment – and I’m pleased for Steven, he’s a top man,” he said. “I speak to him quite a bit and when I worked under him he was the assistant manager (at Bury) but you could tell he would be a really good coach and that he was only going to go on to bigger and better things. I’m really pleased for him.
“I dropped him a text today and he’s probably been bombarded but I said I’d let him settle in and I’d go and have a brew with him.
“Schuey was brilliant, just starting out as a coach then and finishing as a player but you could just tell. He is a positive person, his attention to detail is really good. He was working with Ryan Lowe then and they are both good friends of mine, we had great times together, but I think he’s gone on from being assistant, part of promotions, he’s gone on, strength to strength, and he deserves to work at a club like Bolton.
“I think it’s a good fit and I wish him all the best.”
Adams felt that Schumacher would be a good fit for coaching after he hung up his boots and started working alongside Lowe at Bury. And now that he too is looking to broaden his horizons, the 38-year-old is finding that he is getting good advice.
“I’m starting on my coaching journey now and he has helped me out with stuff and I have leaned on him for that. He’s a top man.
“I think this is the perfect time. Bolton Wanderers is a huge football club and you are getting someone who is on that trajectory and can take them to the next level.
“When we were at Bury he was assistant but you could just tell he would go on and coach a team of his own. He was a top player and he’d gone on to the next part of his journey.
“Now, even when he isn’t managing he is out learning. I have nothing but praise for him.
“He’s passionate, wants to win. When you are a footballer you want to go in every day and the sessions be good, exciting, and that’s what he did.
“He has learned his trade and his CV speaks for itself. I do think it’s a bright future for the football club under Schuey.”
Adams helped Radcliffe into the National League North for the first time in their history last season and has now returned to Bury for the fourth spell of his career.
Nearly 20 years since he made his debut at Darlington, he is back trying to help Dave McNab lift them out of the North West Counties League ahead of local rivals Ramsbottom.
“Everyone knows what I feel about this club,” he said. “All I can say is I’m delighted to be back.
“I don’t think anyone thought I’d be going playing in tier nine before I finished playing football but everyone knows what Bury means to me. As soon as the call came, I didn’t have to think twice.
“The manager, Dave, is great, and his staff, and there is a buzz about the place.
“It is going to be tough, Ramsbottom and other teams are up there and no league is ever easy. I know Bury is a giant of a football club but we’re a big scalp and teams raise their game.
“I’m older than the last time I was there but I’m here to help the lads and it’s a perfect opportunity for me try and get another promotion and get the club on the rise towards where it should be.”
