NEW Albion manager Micky Adams has challenged the players to show him they are worth keeping.

The former Nottingham Forest No. 2 takes charge for the first time tonight as fellow strugglers Shrewsbury visit the Priestfield Stadium.

And the message to everyone is plain: perform or pack your bags.

Adams said: "I have got certain beliefs. Everybody who plays in my team will know exactly what job they are supposed to do.

"If they do it to the best of their ability they will keep the shirt. If they don't do the job I set them I will bring somebody else into the team. It's not nice playing in the Reserves."

The slate has been wiped clean and Adams has pledged to give everybody the chance to prove themselves.

"We have got 29 professionals, which needs addressing," he said. "Nineteen are out of contract, but that doesn't mean 19 will be leaving in the summer.

"They and the ten in contract have got to show me in the next five weeks that they want to be part of a club going places.

"The train is pulling into the station and I want them to jump on it. If they don't want to jump on it then they can go somewhere else."

Adams and his assistant Alan Cork meet the players for the first time at training today.

He will consult Martin Hinshelwood, who took caretaker charge for Saturday's 2-1 win at Plymouth, before naming a side missing the suspended Duncan McArthur.

Adams thinks Albion still need another victory to guarantee safety. "They got a good result on Saturday, so the team picks itself," he added.

"I will speak to Martin and take it from there, but I will be in charge."

Albion (from): Ormerod; Walton; Bennett, Mayo, Minton, Hobson, McPherson, Storer, Arnott, Hart, Moralee, Ryan, Smith, Barker, Ansah, Sturgess.

Shrewsbury (probable): Edwards; Seabury, Hanmer, Wilding, Tretton, Gayle, Berkley, Kerrigan, Steele, Brown, Jobling. Subs: To be announced.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.