Morecambe are now looking for a new manager following Derek Adams shock departure to Ross County according to the club website.
Adams had been in charge at Morecambe since February 2022 when he replaced Stephen Robinson, who himself had returned to Scotland to manage St Mirren. John McMahon and Ged Brannan will look after the first team temporarily until an appointment is made. The Lancashire club currently sit ninth in League Two as they target an immediate return to the third tier following their relegation in May. Here we take a look at five managers who could take the vacant position at the Shrimps.
David Artell
Artell is the standout favourite for the role and has experience of League Two with Crewe Alexandra where he managed from 2017 through to 2022. He managed to get Crewe promoted to League One in the covid-hit 2019-20 season when the League was suspended in March due to the pandemic.
The former defender has an affinity with Morecambe too, making 128 appearances for the club between 2007 and 2010. Amongst others he has also played for Crewe, Mansfield Town and Wrexham.
John Coleman
John Coleman’s name is surprising mainly because he’s still in a job with Accrington Stanley, who sit seventh in League Two, two places above Morecambe.
He has no previous attachments to Morecambe, but has had two spells with his current club. Coleman has also managed Rochdale, Southport and Sligo Rovers to name but a few. After over nine years with the Lancashire club, he could be tempted by a cross-county move.
Leam Richardson
Ex-Wigan Athletic manager Richardson’s name keeps popping up in the League One and Two managerial search. He managed the Latics from 2020 to 2022, culminating in winning the League One Manager of the Season award as he guided the club to the league title.
He was later sacked, just sixteen days after signing a new three-year contract with the Lancashire club after a run of poor form in November 2022.
Gary Bowyer
Ex-Dundee manager Bowyer has plenty of experience in the English game having managed at Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bradford City and Salford City between 2013 and 2022.
In May 2017 he achieved promotion to League One with Blackpool, beating Exeter City 2-1 in the play-off final. It was his style of play that eventually landed him his most recent job north of the border, but he could be looking for a move back to England.
Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes was sacked by Bradford City at the beginning of last month after the pre-season promotion favourites struggled for form. The former Manchester United and Barcelona attacker is perhaps most famous for his stints at the helm of the Wales national team, as well as an array of Premier League teams including Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City.
The 60-year-old may be looking to prove his worth at League Two level after criticism that his style of play was not suited to the fourth tier.
Writer’s View
Artell is the stand out favourite and surely it would take a brave person to bet against him getting the job. His experience with Crewe Alexandra and the success he had in the job added to the locality make him and Morecambe an ideal fit.
John Coleman could be a possibility as well, although he does seem happy at Accrington. He has however jumped ship before, although he may perhaps want to achieve promotion back to League One before setting his sights on other positions.
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