Historic derby pits teacher against student
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THEY were master and apprentice at Motherwell. In management, Terry Butcher calls them brothers-in-arms.
More accurately, though, the Caley Thistle boss and Ross County counterpart Derek Adams might best be described as Scottish football’s "Odd Couple".
With a friendship spanning the Highland divide, the 53-year-old Englishman and the 37-year-old Scot took the unusual step of staging joint interviews over lunch on the eve of tonight’s (Friday’s) historic derby.
It was not a move you could envisage many Old Firm managers embracing ahead of pressure-pot matches, much as Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon might like to.
Then again, Butcher and Adams are no ordinary managers – and, in many ways, the unlikeliest of bosom buddies.
There is Butcher, lover of good wines and Adams, the strict teetotaller.
Butcher, the hell-raising heavy-metal fanatic with a penchant for colourful language. Adams, the reserved and studious, non-swearing Christian.
Beneath those cliches, though, it is clear the pair share much in common — not least a wicked sense of humour.
For a full hour, off-the-record on Wednesday, they sparred verbally, reminiscing on Motherwell incidents and cracking jokes at each other’s expense. Much of it was unprintable.
When the serious stuff started, though, what emerged was a great mutual respect and trust.
Butcher could always count on Adams in the beating heart of a Motherwell midfield featuring the likes of Scott Leitch and Stephen Pearson.
After being torn apart by cash troubles, under Butcher the Fir Park team won top six recognition against huge odds.
Adams was every bit the ruthless, combative performer Butcher had been as a player. Now, those fiery passions have followed them into management, with both noted for the odd run-in with referees and SFA disciplinary committees.
For Butcher, though, Adams is breaking the mould in management in a way he never envisaged in those Motherwell days.
The Caley Thistle boss said: "Obviously, I remember well my time with Derek there at Motherwell and what he did for me there.
"He was fantastic — a big part of that Motherwell success when we reached the top six coming out of administration. He will always be part of my past and the success we achieved and I wish the very best for him — and Ross County.
"Not on Friday night, of course. On Friday, I wish them and him the worst, as I’m sure he does for me.
"We are maybe different characters, but there is one thing we do share and that’s a passion for the game. Derek, like me, was a very passionate player and is now a passionate manager.
"But I must admit I never really saw it working for him in management. I thought ‘he doesn’t drink ... he doesn’t smoke ... he doesn’t swear – he’s got no chance’!
"Well, he has certainly proved that one wrong because he has a massive future in the game. He has done very well. That 40-match unbeaten run with Ross County is just the stuff of pure fantasy. It is really unbelievable.
"There are not many other teams in the game who have ever gone on that kind of sequence.
"He has taken Ross County from the Second Division to the SPL. The last few years in Highland football has been incredible and tremendous for the whole area, as well as both clubs and towns."
Adams holds Butcher in similar high regard, stressing: "There is a rivalry come Friday night. I want to get three points, Terry wants to get three points.
"Before the game you can be best of friends but during that 90 minutes you are best of enemies.
"It’s different, because he has obviously been my manager before and we have that good relationship. We get on very well with each other.
"That is obviously different from some managers in derbies who perhaps don’t particularly like each other.
"I like Terry just now ... but ask me again after the game!
"For me, it is great being a younger manager coming up against a person I used to work for and now have to work against.
"I learned a lot from him. Terry says I learned how NOT to do it but I learned from him the importance of being totally focused. He also has a great way with people and he’s trustworthy.
"Passion is a big thing in football and he has that in abundance. He’s worn that famous white bandage with blood on it, metaphorically, for many years."
As for the derby, Adams is animated when he talks of tonight’s great showcase for Highland football.
For the first time after 35 previous meetings, the north fixture will be played out in the SPL – and in front of a live television audience.
Adams said: "I don’t think fans of Ross County and Inverness could ever really have believed they would have two SPL sides up here in the north.
"I’m sure they dreamt it. Inverness have been promoted to the SPL twice which says a lot for them and now we have joined them.
"I really enjoyed the First Division experience in the derbies of being manager. They were great occasions.
"Being a player in a derby match was always good in Ross County against Caley Thistle but being manager was a wee bit special.
"This is extra special, being the first SPL derby. I think that’s great for the Highlands.
"We have so many people who have a negative approach to two teams from the Highlands being up here at this level now.
"But it just shows how much the two clubs have come on over the years.
"There are clubs and managers who don’t want either team in the league because of the travelling, but we will stick together as clubs.
"On Friday night we won’t stick together, but outside of that we want to do well for the whole Highland community and both football clubs."
Adams has doubts over skipper Richard Brittain, who has missed training since the birth of his first child and striker Colin McMenamin, still carrying a thigh injury.
The County boss added: "Inverness have come off a fantastic result against Dundee United and we were involved in a fantastic game last week.
"Hopefully, it makes for a good game. I hope we can have some key players back for the game, although it is not looking that way just now."
Alex Cooper and Mark Corcoran remain injured.
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Read the report on St Mirren v Ross County at www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk
