FEATURE: Nicky Adams on why he might never have played for Cobblers and how Keith Curle tempted him back

Despite playing a key role in Bury's promotion triumph during the 2014/15 campaign, Adams was 'shocked' to discover he had been transfer-listed at the end of the season, igniting a battle between several League Two rivals for his signature.

"I had a good season, we got promoted, and returning from a few days away, I was told to find a new club," Adams said at the time. "I was shocked but they said they were going in a different direction."

"I went in to get my promotion medal and I thought I was going to get the programme for the summer but I was sat down and told they wanted to go in a different direction. I asked to see if I could fight for my place but that wasn't an option."

But finding a new club was never going to be a problem for League Two's assist king and, as it happened, everything turned out for the best.

He signed for Chris Wilder and promptly starred, racking up assists galore, as Northampton romped to the title, though it might have been different had Curle, in charge of Carlisle United at the time, made his move a little earlier.

Adams would eventually head to Cumbria a year later and spent two seasons at Brunton Park, although the second was curtailed by a bad knee injury.

“Keith had shown interest in me before I joined Northampton," Adams revealed. "But I’d given my word to Chris and Knilly and once I do that, there’s no going back for me as I’m a loyal person.

"Keith then got in contact with my agent again 12 months later and as soon as we met I knew straight away that the man sounds true to his word and my first impression of him was really good.​​

“We came so close to achieving good things with Carlisle and I still feel like I owe the manager and his staff something, and that’s why every time I go out there I give my all for the team.

"We went so close, but we lost a couple of players in the winter transfer window and only just missed out in the play-offs.

"Then the following season we had another good go and were in and around the play-offs again, but I picked up the dreaded bad injury which Keith really helped me with and I can’t speak highly enough of him.​"

After leaving Carlisle in 2018, Adams won yet another promotion with Bury, but his admiration for Curle never wavered and last summer the duo teamed up again at Northampton.​

“I managed to get back fit before going back to Bury and despite everything that was happening off the pitch, we still went on to have an unbelievable season and win automatic promotion," added the 33-year-old.

"Ryan Lowe and his staff were first class and I hold them in such high regard. We had a great team and I’ve made friends for life from my time there, it’s a shame how it all ended but like I say I hope with all my heart that they can work their way back up to where they belong because it’s a club that means the world to me.​​

“In the summer, I had the opportunity to come back to Northampton with Keith. I was on holiday at the time and I think he was trying to get me a plane home!

"But I gave him my word and came back to another club which I hold in such high regard and we’re in a really good position now.

"When football continues I’m hoping we can have a real strong end to the season, we’re praying we can get over the line and I want to do it for the manager and his staff as well as the supporters.”