Ex-Portsmouth and Coventry man handed first managerial role after rediscovering love for football
The cultured player made 26 appearances for the Blues after joining from Coventry
One of the first signings of Pompey’s Paul Cook era has taken his first steps into football management.
Although Adam Barton won’t yet be hanging up his boots as he combines his new role with ongoing playing duties.
The former Northern Ireland international has been a regular with non-league Curzon Ashton since 2021, after growing disillusioned with football and quitting the full-time game at the age of 29 to focus on his family.
During that time, the 35-year-old has racked up more than 200 appearances for the National League North club, who are currently placed 16th.
However, following head coach Mark Bradshaw’s sacking after last week’s 4-1 loss at Spennymoor, The Nash have appointed Barton as player-manager.
The versatile performer, who featured 26 times for the Pompey following his arrival from Coventry in June 2015, is assisted by Jordan Richards, another first-teamer.
And with their first match in charge marked by a goalless draw at King’s Lynn on Saturday, in which both of the new-look management started, it has been a solid introduction for Barton.
‘Both men have given so much to the club’
‘Both men have given so much to the club as players and we as a board believe they are more than capable of stepping up into management and driving us forward.
‘We have seen in previous seasons how promoting from within can bring great success and we hope with this appointment the club can continue to progress.
‘We recognise that this season hasn’t gone as well as we would have hoped and we want to give Adam and Jordan adequate time to put their stamp on the team and prepare for next season.’
Pompey’s fifth signing under Paul Cook
Barton was Cook’s fifth signing as Pompey boss in June 2015, captured following his release from Coventry after 73 appearances in three seasons.
The cultured central midfielder was surprisingly converted to a central defender to solve an injury crisis in that campaign, proving to be a calm presence alongside Christian Burgess.
Subsequently, when Adam Webster and Matt Clarke were ruled out of the two-legged League Two play-off semi-final against Plymouth in May 2016, it was Barton who deputised as the Blues were eliminated.
However, shortly after moving into a new home in Chichester, he was informed on deadline day in August 2016 that Scottish side Partick Thistle had shown strong interest.
Barton, who had made five appearances in what would prove to be a League Two title-winning season, subsequently departed Fratton Park for an undisclosed fee.
Became a plasterer on a building site
After spells at Partick, Dundee United, Connah’s Quay Nomads and Wrexham, he quit the professional game at the age of 29, having become disillusioned with football.
Instead, Barton played part-time for Farsley Celtic while working as a plasterer on building sites alongside his brother.
Then, in 2021, he moved to Curzon Ashton - and now he has been given the task of steering them to safety in National League North after a disappointing season.
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