'Positive progress' made towards Morecambe sale

Morecambe have been in the EFL since promotion in 2007

Morecambe's board of directors say that "positive progress" has been made towards the sale of the club.

The Shrimps' relegation from League Two was confirmed with defeat to Salford City on Monday.

They will now play National League football for the first time since 2007 after a tumultuous 12 months.

Owner Jason Whittingham, in charge since 2018, is very keen to sell the club and in a statement, the directors said: "The process of selling the club is ongoing and, as things stand today, there appears to have been real, positive and recent progress within the last two weeks."

For Morecambe and their manager Derek Adams, this season has been a struggle from the moment the last one ended.

A transfer embargo was only lifted in early July and it meant Adams had to quickly scramble a squad together.

Problems with the club's owners again came to light in January as transfers were blocked until funds to see out the season were guaranteed.

They have spent virtually the whole season in the bottom two and four successive defeats confirmed a second relegation in three seasons.

The directors describe relegation as a "profound disappointment" but are calling upon fans to keep their "belief and support" ahead of National League football.

They added: "We are confident that, together, we can rise above this latest challenge in our 105-year history and reclaim our place in the higher echelons of English football."