Morecambe have a lot of hard work ahead despite a positive start to pre-season

Morecambe manager Adam Lakeland is happy with what he has seen from his players in pre-season as they prepare for the new campaign.

Three relegations in four seasons leave the Shrimps playing National League North football in 2026/27: a return to regionalised football for the first time in three decades.

For Lakeland, who made the move from FC Halifax Town along with assistant Sam Walker at the end of April, the close season has meant overhauling the squad he inherited.

As well as the departure of three loanees from the Halo Aerospace Stadium, 18 players were also released with another five opting to try their luck elsewhere.

Twelve players have also come in, meaning pre-season has been about new faces integrating as well as building up fitness and finding out what the Morecambe management team expects of their squad.

“We’ve just got to keep on trying to get better every single day,” Lakeland said after the Shrimps’ pre-season victory at Bamber Bridge.

“What I would say is the lads’ attitude and application every single day in the training ground has been top drawer.

“We’re giving them a lot of information, we’re being critical when we need to be - because we’ve got a lot of work to do - and it’s a brand new team; we’ve been together for three weeks.

“What I’m seeing is a real thirst for improvement from them, I’m seeing them get stronger as a group day by day.

“The atmosphere around the training ground, the noise around the training ground and on the pitch; players are talking more and having that little more banter with one another.

“That’s just because we’re spending more time together and, on the pitch, I’m seeing us get better game by game which is obviously what we want.

“So far, there’s been a hell of a lot more positives than negatives in these three weeks, but I’m under no illusions that we’ve got a hell of a lot of work still to do - and we’ll keep on doing that.”