Morecambe boss Derek Adams has seemingly been given a major transfer boost as he plots an immediate return to League One according to a statement on the club’s website.
Club owners, Bond Group Investments Ltd have announced what they describe as the biggest budget for League Two in the club’s history.
Morecambe endured a tough 2022/23 season and flirted with the drop zone for the entire campaign before finally dropping through the trapdoor on the final day.
Adams and the Shrimps said goodbye to 14 players after relegation, including star striker Cole Stockton and goalkeeper Conor Ripley with none of those out of contract offered fresh terms.
The mass exodus left the club with just six players currently contracted for a next season and leaves Adams with a huge rebuild on his hands at the Mazuma Stadium if there is to be an immediate return to the third tier.
Adams’ side battled bravely against the drop with the club up against it from the start with a tiny playing budget in a division which included big hitters such as Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday.
A dramatic last home game of the season saw them come from 2-0 down to beat Lincoln City 3-2 only to suffer heartbreak with defeat at Exeter City consigning them to the drop.
In a statement on the club’s official website, Bond Investments said that Adams and his recruitment team had been sounded out about the transfer kitty and were already working on signings ahead of the new season.
What Was Said?
The statement on morecambefc.com said:
‘Bond Group Investments can today announce a support package for the club which includes a playing budget that will be the highest provided as a League Two Club in our history. ‘The budget will have a significant uplift compared to our promotion year in 2020/21.
‘This budget is a statement of the club’s intent to have a competitive and successful season in League Two.
‘Derek and his recruiting team have been notified of this budget and are already working hard to assemble the playing squad.’
Writers View
The statement from the newly relegated Lancashire Club may come as a little surprising and perhaps frustrating to fans as the unpopular owners put the Shrimps up for sale last September. Supporters have been hoping for a change and as recently as two weeks ago, it looked as though 20 year old tycoon, Sarb Johal, was set to become the EFL’s youngest owner with his company Sarb Capital Ltd heavily linked with a takeover bid after earlier buying what was described as a ‘significant’ number of shares in the club.
Heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury, who lives in the seaside town, had also been linked with a move to buy the Shrimps.
Bond Investments Group headed by business duo Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring bought Morecambe in 2018, but have been looking to sell as they focused attentions on their crisis hit Premiership rugby side, Worcester Warriors.
Adams is plotting to repeat the promotion he and Morecambe achieved by winning the League Two Playoffs at Wembley back in 2021. The Scot left for Bradford immediately afterwards but later returned to steer the club to League One safety.The former Plymouth boss was unable to repeat the heroics again though as the club dropped to the basement with Forest Green Rovers, MK Dons and fellow Lancastrians Accrington Stanley
That’s good my dad follows Morecambe so he will be happy with this.