Derek Adams speaks as Bantams face former boss at Morecambe

But the former Bantams boss insists his sarcastic post-match gesture was justified after the level of stick he had received.

Adams is now in his third spell in charge of the Shrimps as he prepares for tomorrow’s reunion on the west coast.

Asked if he regretted the way he reacted last season, he told the T&A: “Not when you have the abuse that you get from supporters.

“I didn’t ask for it, it was given and I don’t think it was correct. It shouldn’t be tolerated.

“I don’t think I’ve said anything that’s incorrect. If that’s how people want to react, they can react in that way.

“People ask me for my opinion and I give it. That’s what I have done all of my career.

“But it shouldn’t allow anyone to abuse a person, a manager, the way that happens in football. It’s tolerated and it shouldn’t be.”

It is now two-and-a-half years since Adams was sacked after just 31 league games in the Valley Parade hot-seat.

He has buried the hatchet with chief executive Ryan Sparks – but still feels City were wrong to get rid of him so soon.

“I’ve had some very good conversations with Ryan,” added Adams. “I still enjoy his company.

“I understand the situation he was in at the time.

“I don’t think he was correct in his decision and I’ve told him that.

“But I can understand it because of the appetite of the supporters to get promoted out of the division.

“We had too many draws and that was it in a nutshell. We had a very good squad that I thought could have possibly got us up.

Derek Adams says he gets on well with City CEO Ryan Sparks (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“We didn’t win the games we drew, especially at home, and that was always going to cause me a problem.

“In any walk of life, you have to make decisions.

“I don’t think the decision was correct but someone above you has got to make it. In the same way I’ve got to make decisions every day.

“Some you get right, some you get wrong. Only time will tell if it was the correct decision if Bradford City get out of League Two.”

City are now in their sixth successive season in the fourth tier and Saturday’s defeat at Harrogate – the third away loss on the trot – has turned up the pressure. Adams understands the spotlight on Graham Alexander and his team.

“Everyone knows that when they take over the job.

“It’s a fantastic football club, there’s no doubt about it.

“But there are things that I have spoken about before that hamper the club, which is the same at any other. We’ve all got issues that we need to resolve.”

Morecambe are still looking for their first win after a complete summer rebuild. But the signs are improving after three straight draws took them off the bottom of the table.

The Shrimps felt they were robbed of victory against high-flying Notts County at the weekend when a potential stoppage-time winner from Jamie Stott was ruled not to have crossed the line.

Adams admitted: “It’s hard to take at times but we’re due a win.

“We have played well in large spells this season without getting the results. It’s just taken us a wee bit of time to get going.

“We’ve had really good moments in games. We have to be better in the final third with that final pass and getting the ball into the back of the net.

Derek Adams and Mark Hughes watch last year's game (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“Players get the feeling you’re right in games but not getting the break. We’ve made goalkeeping errors, we got a penalty against us and some decisions didn’t go our way.

“But in the end, we haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal.”

Adams returned to Morecambe in June after an abortive 12-game return to Scotland with Ross County.

With a backdrop of a transfer embargo, which was not lifted until the following month, he signed 19 players – to replace the same amount who left.

“It was a busy summer but I knew what I was getting myself into when I came back.

“I knew the embargo was going on and the financial difficulties we were going to have.

“It was just navigating that and getting a squad ready for the start of the season.

“We’ve got to work to a budget. I think we’ve got a very good calibre of player in for the value for money.

“I still think there are a lot of strong teams and good quality in the league.

“Yes, they might not have the finances of a Stockport or a Wrexham. But there are still many clubs that are spending money which people wouldn’t think is happening.

“We all know it’s how you spend your money and your recruitment that determines your success.

Lee Angol, right, celebrates his goal against Notts County (Image: @MorecambeFC)

“A number of clubs get some bargains and do well. A number of clubs spend money on players that are not worth it.

“It’s just getting that balance right. We’ve given ourselves a slow start but you can pick up a good number of wins quite quickly.”

It will be a very different Morecambe lining up against City compared with the one that thumped them 3-0 under Adams last August.

But Adams will be looking for the same bite from his revamped side.

“We played well on the day last season. We won 3-0 and it was a really good performance from us.

“But we always look at the games coming up and Bradford City are a club that’s trying to get out of this division. We understand the threat they can be.

“We’ve come off a really good performance at home against Notts County and we’ll have to play with the same endeavour and enthusiasm.”