Knill warns Adams

2:38pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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ALAN Knill has warned Nicky Adams that the grass is not necessarily greener away from Gigg Lane.

The Shakers boss has been encouraged by recent talks with the young winger, whose contract is up at the end of June.

An impressive 13 goals and 15 assists last season has made him one of the hottest properties in League Two, but despite continued speculation linking him with a move to neighbours Rochdale, no contact has been made by the Spotland club since a cheeky bid back in January.

Anyone looking to sign Adams this summer would have to go to a tribunal, and considering the Welsh under-21 international has been within the Shakers set-up for four years, his services would come at some cost. But Knill does not blame the player for exploring his options, just so long as his final decision is made for the right reasons.

"We have made Nicky a decent offer and he is considering it," he said.

"He could knock it back, but there are only a certain number of pounds we can throw his way. To his credit, he knows that.

"Nicky has been excellent every time I have spoken to him, and to be fair, his agent is only trying to get the best deal for his player.

"In my opinion, the best for Nicky is to continue his progression here. I have told him and his agent in no uncertain terms that he has to be playing games. If he does move on and Nicky isn't playing every week, then I will fall out with that agent."

Knill will travel to Wrexham tonight to watch Adams play against England under-21s before taking in both of this weekend's play-off semi-finals.

And though he is keeping his eye out for potential replacements, the Bury boss insists that Adams' exit is by no means a foregone conclusion.

"He has had a great season, and perhaps he is looking at what else is out there. Can you blame him?

"But from our point of view, we have had no offers. We turned down £30,000 from Rochdale which was way, way below what we value him at. We know how much a tribunal would probably cost someone."

Knill has made contact with a striker this week as he gets down to the business of bolstering his squad.

Described by the manager as a proven goalscorer at a "good age," he is the first of several potential targets identified at a notoriously tricky time of the year.

"I have spoken to a couple of players this week, but at this stage of the summer, they always say they are keeping their options open," he said.

"The ones I want to speak to are the ones everyone wants. That means I have to tell them what I am about, what I want from them, and hope they buy into it.

"It's a big sell, but I'm confident we'll get it right."