“It was too good an opportunity for me to turn down”: New Morecambe boss explains his decision to drop a division
Adam Lakeland said the opportunity to become Morecambe’s new manager was too good an offer to turn down.
Lakeland was confirmed as the new man in charge last Thursday, signing a three-year contract after the Shrimps met a release clause in his deal at FC Halifax Town.
He told the club website: “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind couple of days but (I’m) just really pleased it’s all sorted and the dust settled, we can crack on and get to work.
“I was initially made aware of the interest from Morecambe after we played the game at Woking on Saturday with Halifax.
“I was given permission to speak to the club, which I did on Wednesday. After having some really positive conversations, particularly with Ropinder (Singh, club CEO), I just feel it was too good an opportunity for me to turn down.
“The vision, the ambition, the values of the club align with those of mine and it’s something that is incredibly exciting.
“I think this season, competing against Morecambe in the same league, you’ve been waiting for them to come because they’ve had some very capable and talented players this year.
“When you get in that spiral of negative results, it’s very difficult to get out of and that’s seen the club have another disappointing season.
“My intention is to try and nip that downward spiral in the bud immediately and try and get us moving in an upward trajectory.”
Having guided Halifax to eighth in the National League this season, the former Curzon Ashton and King’s Lynn Town man has no qualms about dropping down a division following Morecambe’s relegation to National League North.
“I’ve never hidden my ambition of wanting to get in the Football League,” Lakeland added.
“I’m not an ex-professional, so I’ve had to do it the hard way and I’ve put the yards in.
“I’ve managed nearly 500 games, I’ve grafted and I’ll continue to graft to get where I believe I will get to.
“I wouldn’t have taken this step if I didn’t believe in myself, Sam (Walker, assistant boss) and the direction, ambition and the project that the football club has got if I didn’t think we could very quickly return to the National League and then try and kick on from there.”