Ged Brannan: Morecambe appoint caretaker boss as manager on 18-month deal

Ged Brannan took co-caretaker charge of Morecambe with John McMahon during their 6-0 defeat by Wrexham on Saturday

Morecambe have appointed caretaker Ged Brannan as their manager on an 18-month deal following the departure of former boss Derek Adams.

Adams left the club earlier in November to rejoin Scottish side Ross County for his third spell in charge.

Brannan, alongside John McMahon, took temporary charge for Saturday's 6-0 League Two thrashing by Wrexham.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be in charge of a club like Morecambe," Brannan, 51, told the club website.

"The fans are great, I've been here before as a player and I always loved it - I'm absolutely buzzing, I'm just so glad the board have stuck by me and given me this opportunity.

"If they [the fans] are anything like Saturday at Wrexham, that's all I can ask. Come down on Tuesday, sing your hearts out and get behind the team because you're an extra player for us, you've been brilliant so keep it going."

Adams, 48, had two spells in charge of Morecambe, first leading them to promotion from League Two through the play-offs in 2020-21, then again from early 2022 when he initially kept the club up in League One.

Although relegation to League Two followed last season, the Scot had stabilised the club upon their return to the fourth tier, with the Shrimps just outside the play-off places when he departed.

Brannan, whose playing career included spells at Tranmere, Manchester City and Wigan, made more than 60 appearances for Morecambe and returned to the club in a youth coaching role after his retirement following a spell as manager of Accrington Stanley Under-23s.

He takes charge of Morecambe with the club 12th in the table, two points off the play-off places, following Saturday's defeat, which was their third in a row in the league.