New Morecambe boss wants adaptability and leadership from the new Shrimps squad

Morecambe’s players have been challenged to show their adaptability when they return to action next season.

New manager Adam Lakeland has warned his squad - and future signings - that they will need more than one string to their bow if they want to challenge for promotion from National League North.

This season saw a contrast in styles at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, starting with an attempt at passing, front-foot football under Ashvir Singh Johal.

His departure then saw Jim Bentley brought in with a more ‘back to basics’ approach.

Asked if he had a particular style in mind, Lakeland told Morecambe supporters at last month’s forum: “I’d like to think that our teams have always been adaptable.

“I don’t think any of the teams we’ve had have been the same.

“I think that the best teams have to have the ability to adapt, not just if you need to change from one game to another game for a specific reason, but I think sometimes you need to change in-game as well.

“The way you set your team out on any particular day, sometimes the opposition might throw you a curveball and everything you’ve worked on through the week goes out of the window and you’ve got to adapt.

“Your players then need to know why you’re adapting and they need to be able to adjust in-game.

“You can have a massive impact on your players in the week and that’s where we do the bulk of our work, because you want to leave no stone unturned and prepare your players the best you possibly can, so that whatever the game throws at them and whatever situation they might find themselves in, they know what’s required.

“Then, sometimes in a game, you need players on the pitch to recognise what’s going on and because it’s not always easy to get those messages on to the pitch, you need those leaders.

“It’s about the work we do on the training ground. We work hard on the training ground, we expect our teams to be fit, to be organised and to give them clarity on what we expect of them and hopefully that, come game day, they know exactly what they’re doing.”