Tony Adams: Jermain Defoe's Portsmouth display against West Ham convinced me he'd been tapped up by Spurs

As Pompey boss, the former England skipper oversaw Defoe’s departure for White Hart Lane in January 2009.

However, he insists the striker had already set his heart on leaving the Blues – tell-tale signs he recognised in a Boxing Day defeat to the Hammers.

Pompey lost 4-1 in that Fratton Park encounter, with Defoe missing a penalty and substituted in the 73rd minute.

It was the last time he started for Adams – and 12 days later completed a move to Spurs.

Adams told The News: ‘I think he had been tapped and was ready to go to Tottenham.

‘I love Jay, I think he is a super man, a lovely human being, I love the kid, I really do. But we got stuffed by West Ham and I don’t think he tried a leg.

‘His head was back at Tottenham. I could see that.

‘It was at home and the frustration got the better of me afterwards. I said a few words to him (in the dressing room), basically to come and see me in the office on Monday. By that time, the deal had pretty much been done.

‘He came in, we had a bit of a chuckle, he said “Boss, I’d like to go to Tottenham” and I shook his hand and said thanks for the £6m. Then we could get on with trying to replace him somehow.

‘It wasn’t a “bust up” with Jermain after that game, although I may have said a little more than I usually did.

‘I very rarely lose my composure, I don’t let anger get the better of me and I still find it a very uncomfortable emotion.

‘There’s no point, you are not getting anything out of it if you hairdryer someone, you are doing it for yourself, really.

‘I’ve always been well calculated and try to be constructive rather than that.’

Defoe scored 17 goals in 36 appearances during his 12 month on the south coast after initially arriving from Spurs.

However, following a prolific spell at Fratton Park, the manager who had signed him – Harry Redknapp – took the striker back to North London.

And Adams admits he had sympathy for Defoe’s situation.

He added: ‘We are only human beings and sometimes their heart isn’t in it. It’s really difficult if your heart's not in it and you see other players leaving.

‘It works both ways. When you put a team together and all of a sudden Sol Campbell comes in along with players like Kanu, Lassana Diarra and others, it’s an upward trajectory.

‘All of a sudden it then works the other way – and you see players leaving the club. It’s only normal they get insecure and aren’t sure what’s happening.

‘The previous month I took them to Upton Park and we played them off the pitch in a goalless draw, we were unlucky not to win. Gianfranco Zola came up to me afterwards and said “My God, you’ve got them playing”.

‘I kind of took some satisfaction from that – I didn’t want to say to him I’m going to lose half this team shortly.’

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