It is just over two weeks since the former Arsenal and England star made the step up from assistant boss at Pompey to replace Harry Redknapp.

And in that time the 42-year-old has been reading speculation of doom and gloom such as the club being up for sale, players wanting to leave and a lack of funds to buy replacements.

But it is all water off a duck's back to Adams, who has been granted his wish to manage a Premier League club and is looking for a second consecutive away win at West Ham on Saturday.

And although he admits that stepping into Redknapp's shoes would be a major challenge for anybody he remains fiercely confident in his ability.

He said: "Just let me do my job. I've got a certain remit here and I know I can do what I've got to do.

"Don't forget I've been at Portsmouth more than two years already. I was party to a lot that Harry did, including recruitment and it is not as though I've just come into a club that's struggling at the bottom.

"We are the FA Cup holders and going for our third top 10 finish in a row. That would be fantastic, it really would, because this is such a tough league where everybody is scrapping.

"But I love what I'm doing, getting involved in every aspect of it and watching tons of matches - what I've always done.

"The only trouble is I'm not spending that much time at home and the wife has got the hump but I took her out to see the new James Bond film last week and I try to keep a balance such as keeping the phone off when I'm off."

Adams might claim he does not need a quantum of solace just yet but admits a streaky win at Sunderland last week - Jermain Defoe scoring a penalty in the last minute - was welcome after defeats by Liverpool and Wigan started his reign on the back foot.

He said: "Results don't always tell the full story because we played better in the two previous games.

"I accept that in the end I will be judged on results and recruitment but as far as I know the owner here has always been behind the manager and I think he will give me a free hand and enough to work with.

"I've got plenty of contacts in the game and if people don't think I can be successful bringing players in and replacing any that leave they should ask anybody at Wycombe Wanderers where a few years ago I had to save the club by massively cutting the budget.

"I had to let a lot of players go there but if you look at it I think only two of them are still playing league football."

Adams won only 12 of his 53 games at Wycombe in his first managerial job. They were relegated to League Two but he insists: "I have inherited a very good squad at Portsmouth and if I add maybe two players every year who are better than we've got then we'll do well."

And Adams, with former Dutch star John Metgod joining him this week from Feyenoord as a replacement for Joe Jordan as first-team coach, has pledged to keep playing attacking football.

He added: "That was the way Harry liked to play and it's my game as well."