New Portsmouth manager Tony Adams admits he is taking a risk in succeeding Harry Redknapp at Fratton Park.
The ex-Arsenal and England captain served as Redknapp's assistant and has now been elevated to the Fratton Park hot-seat following his former boss' weekend move to Tottenham.
Adams has previously spent an unsuccessful year in charge of Wycombe, but the 42-year-old has suitably impressed at Pompey to be handed his first managerial job in the Premier League on a two-and-a-half year contract.
And the former centre-back, who is understood to have pipped the likes of Avram Grant and Sam Allardyce to the role, admits he did not want to see anybody else appointed as a replacement for Redknapp, who guided the club to FA Cup glory last season.
"It is fantastic, I'm very honoured," Adams - who joined Pompey in 2006 - told a press conference shown live on Sky Sports News. "It is a great opportunity.
"I'd have been mad to turn it down. I'm very excited. It is like Christmas.
"It is a risk. It is a hard man to follow. Sometimes it doesn't always work out. He did a great job.
"I've got some great players. And I was kind of responsible for bringing them to the club. I didn't want them to give the job to anyone else.
"I would have been gutted. I thank them for showing the courage to appoint me."
Adams has also revealed that he sought the advice of his former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger before accepting the role.
"I am ready, it is the next step," Adams added. "I spoke to Arsene, and he said, 'welcome to hell'. I asked him, 'are you scared? I'm coming for you'."
Speculation has suggested that Redknapp will attempt to lure a number of his former players to White Hart Lane, but Adams insists he will not let his stars leave easily.
"I'll fight him," Adams joked. "That is why they are here. They are good players. I'm delighted that they are wanted, but it is my job to keep them here.
"It might not work, but at the minute they are doing well."
Meanwhile, Portsmouth's new executive chairman Peter Storrie - who has been promoted from a chief executive role - is confident Adams is the right man to take up the reins.
"It has been a bit of a whirlwind," said Storrie. "We had a think and we feel he has done a tremendous job and thoroughly deserves this opportunity. I like the idea of continuity."
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