Derek Adams: Morecambe boss leaves League Two club before expected move to Ross County

Derek Adams has previously had two spells as the manager of Ross County and last left the club in August 2014

Morecambe boss Derek Adams has left the club prior to an expected return to Scottish Premiership side Ross County.

The League Two club did not name the Scottish side in their statement but said Adams, 48, had departed in order to "pursue an opportunity elsewhere".

The Shrimps added they had wanted to retain Adams' services but a release clause in his contract had been met.

"Derek has done an excellent job in challenging circumstances," said Morecambe chief executive Ben Sadler.

"During his second spell with Morecambe, he secured the club's status in League One upon his return midway through the 2021-22 season and built an excellent squad, almost from scratch, that is currently sitting just outside the League Two play-off positions, with games in hand.

"For all of that, we thank Derek and wish him the very best for the future. However, the sole focus of the board of directors now is to appoint the best manager to take this very special club forward."

John McMahon and Ged Brannan will take temporary charge of the team while the club begins its search for a new manager to succeed the Scot.

Adams' previous tenure ended when he left the club shortly after leading them to promotion through the League Two play-offs in 2021, in order to join Bradford City.

His time with the Bantams was short-lived, however, and he returned to Morecambe in February 2022, managing to keep the club in the third tier, but could not repeat the feat last season as they were relegated back to League Two.

Analysis - Adams' exit a blow to club on cusp of play-offs

BBC Radio Lancashire's Derek Quinn

The news that Derek Adams is leaving Morecambe for a second time will be a huge blow to the club.

The Scot will always be known as the man who performed something of a football miracle to take a struggling League Two side with the division's lowest budget into League One in his first full season in charge with a Wembley play-off final victory over Newport County.

Morecambe beat Newport County 1-0 in the 2020-21 League Two play-off final

It was a feat that always made him something of a revered character with the Morecambe fans - even though he disappointed everyone as he left the club to join Bradford a few days after sealing promotion.

When he lost his job there after a relatively short period of time, it seemed as though the stars were aligned as his replacement at Morecambe, Stephen Robinson, jumped ship to join St Mirren at the same time and Adams again delivered the goods as he somehow led the Shrimps to safety.

Even though he could not keep the club in League One last season, there were few, if any, who called for him to go as the Shrimps' fanbase knew the pressures he was under with ownership issues and financial struggles constantly in the spotlight, with the supposed Sarbjot Johal takeover story rumbling on and on.

After relegation was confirmed on the final day of last season, Adams was in the unenviable position of having to release every player not under contract, leaving a squad of just six players as he was told his new budget would again be among the lowest in League Two.

Despite that, Adams, along with head of recruitment Greg Strong and assistant John McMahon, received a late cash boost to put together a team that has so far defied the odds this season to sit just outside the play-off places again and, until two successive defeats in the past couple of weeks, was pushing for a top-two spot.

Although Adams voiced his frustrations openly on several occasions during the past two seasons, it seemed like he was keen to see the project through and only a few weeks ago spoke excitedly of how he intended to take Morecambe into the Championship with potential new owners closing in.

That positive proclamation seems something of a pipe dream now, however, as Adams has once again decided to "seek opportunities elsewhere".

Despite walking out of the door for a second time, the Morecambe fans, who are a loyal lot, have been quick to pass on their best wishes to the 48-year-old as he takes his next step.

They are also already looking to his replacement with former Shrimps stars John Coleman and Dave Artell being put forward as the early crowd favourites to take over.