Football Season Guide

League 1

England

League 1

2021/2022

Morecambe

In

Jökull Andrésson (Goalkeeper, Reading, Season-long loan); Anthony O’Connor (Defender, Bradford City); Greg Leigh (Defender, Aberdeen); Jacob Mensah (Defender, Weymouth); Ryan Cooney (Defender, Burnley); Ryan Delaney (Defender, Bolton Wanderers); Adam Phillips (Midfielder, Burnley, Season-long loan); Alfie McCalmont (Midfielder, Leeds United, Season-long loan); Callum Jones (Midfielder, Hull City, Season-long loan); Josh McPake (Midfielder, Rangers, Season-long loan); Shane McLoughlin (Midfielder, AFC Wimbledon); Wes McDonald (Midfielder, Walsall); Arthur Gnahoua (Attacker, Bolton Wanderers); Jonah Ayunga (Attacker, Bristol Rovers); Jonathan Obika (Attacker, St Mirren)

Out

Mark Halstead (sp) (Goalkeeper, released); Harry Davis (sp) (Defender, Scunthorpe United); Nathaniel Knight-Percival (r) (Defender, Tranmere Rovers); Stephen Hendrie (sp) (Defender, released); Alex Denny (sp) (Midfielder, Salford City, Loan ended); Alex Kenyon (Midfielder, Scunthorpe United); Ben Pringle (Midfielder, released); Brad Lyons (sp) (Midfielder, Blackburn Rovers, Loan ended); John O'Sullivan (r) (Midfielder, Accrington Stanley); Yann Songo’o (r) (Midfielder, Bradford City); AJ Leitch-Smith (Attacker, released); Carlos Mendes Gomes (k) (Attacker, Luton Town); Jordan Slew (sp) (Attacker, released); Liam McAlinden (sp) (Attacker, Wrexham)

Stephen Robinson won’t be the only man pinching himself at Morecambe as they look forward to their first ever season in the third tier of English football. Robinson resigned as manager of Motherwell on New Years Eve whilst the Shrimps were pushing for automatic promotion under Derek Adams. They missed out on the final day but a controversial extra-time penalty saw them beat Newport County at Wembley to win promotion via the play-offs. Less than a week later Adams left the club to take over at League Two Bradford City. Almost the entire squad were out of contract too and several influential players have followed Adams out of the door. Wembley hero Carlos Mendes Gomes will be biggest loss, with the winger signing for Championship side Luton Town. Midfielder Yann Songo’o has joined up with Adams at Valley Parade whilst winger John O’Sullivan has moved to Accrington Stanley. Robinson has managed to retain the services of key players in the likes of centre-back Sam Lavelle, midfielders Aaron Wildig and Toumani Diagouraga and striker Cole Stockton. He has also added to his squad with the captures of midfielder Alfie McCalmont and winger Josh McPake, who arrive on season-long loans having impressed for Oldham Athletic and Harrogate Town in League Two last season. Morecambe will be one of the smallest clubs ever to compete at this level and Robinson has a hell of a task in his hands to keep them in the division.

Target

Survival. The Shrimps are usually one of the favourites for relegation from League Two every season. Staying in League One would be a remarkable achievement.