Morecambe manager wants players with the right character

Lakeland was named as the Shrimps’ new boss at the end of April, having signed a three-year deal in making the move from FC Halifax Town.

He takes over a club reeling from a third relegation in four seasons, having dropped into National League North after being in League One as recently as 2023.

The first order of business has already taken place with last Friday’s publication of Morecambe’s retained list.

Lakeland has wielded the axe with 18 players having been released and three loanees departing, alongside three senior players under contract, negotiations taking place with another seven, two options taken up on youngsters and an offer to another.

Speaking before the retained list was announced, Lakeland lifted the lid on the type of player he wants to bring to Morecambe.

He said: “Having watched a fair bit of Morecambe last season, they’ve got some very gifted and talented individuals.

“I think it’s fair to say there’s been areas of weakness. At the end of the day, the club’s conceded a lot of goals and been relegated.

“I’m not going to sit here and say that everybody that was here last season was good enough because the league table suggests that some of them weren’t.

“I think we’ve just got to work quickly to make sure that we keep not just the right players but the right characters.

“The game’s about character, it’s about having personalities, it’s about having people that want to come here and represent the football club for the right reasons: they want to work hard, they want to win.

“We don’t just want to bring people here that see it as an opportunity to get a good deal.

“Everywhere I’ve been throughout my career, I’ve had limited resources, I’ve had limited budgets and I’ve had to recruit well – and, in the main, I feel like that’s been one of my strong points.

“I’ve got every confidence that we can do that again and build a good side.”