Southend United have finally parted company with their former chief executive John Adams, who had a 15-year association with the club.

The Yorkshireman, who had spent a decade-and-a-half at Roots Hall and was still a director of the Third Division club, has quit the Shrimpers following a drawn-out period of negotiations with Blues' major shareholder Martin Dawn plc.

Announcing Adams' departure, Southend's deputy-chairman Geoffrey King said: "Following a long association with Southend United, John Adams has left the club's employment to pursue his other business interests and we wish him well for the future."

A managing director of Rotherham at one time, Adams was brought to Roots Hall during the mid-80s by ex-Blues supremo Anton Johnson.

However, he will be remembered most for being the right-hand man of former Southend chairman Vic Jobson, during a period in which the club achieved First Division status for the first time in their history.

Adams, who is the father of Sussex and England cricketer Chris Adams, was replaced as Southend's chief executive by Blues' current chairman John Main, following Jobson's sale of the club in November 1998.

But the new regime kept Adams on board for the past 12 months as a continuity link and for his knowledge of past events at the club, as Main and his colleagues battled to resolve crippling finances and a number of unexpected litigations.

Main broke the news to shareholders earlier this month that Adams, who has been a rare visitor to Roots Hall in recent months, would be resigning from his post.

However, Adams, who is believed to have received a cash settlement on leaving Roots Hall and is expected to try and get back into the football industry, refused to comment on his exit.

According to the club's July 1998 accounts, Adams was earning in excess of £50,000-a-year as a paid director of the Seasiders.

John Adams - leaving the Blues after 15 years

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