Football Season Guide

Morecambe head into the new season with a sense of trepidation after a wretched 2015/16 campaign. It was a very different feeling 12 months ago as the Shrimps felt quietly confident following an encouraging close season. Manager Jim Bentley had led the side to their best finish of 11th in League Two since 2010 and then pulled off something of a coup in the transfer market with the capture of midfielder Peter Murphy from Wycombe Wanderers. He also brought in midfielder Aaron Wildig on a permanent deal as well as adding the likes of winger Tom Barkhuizen and striker Shaun Miller. The loss of striker and leading goalscorer Jack Redshaw to neighbours Blackpool was a blow and they made an encouraging start to the season with four wins from their opening seven league games. The bad luck started on the opening day of the season however with Peter Murphy suffering a serious knee injury and then when he returned in January, suffered a worse knee injury at former club Wycombe Wanderers. 2016 has been a year to forget for the Shrimps who won just three of their last 23 matches to finish in 21st place in the League Two table. That run included a humiliating 7-0 defeat at Cambridge United and piled the pressure on Jim Bentley. Chairman and majority shareholder Peter McGuigan put the club up for sale in March but both men still remain in place as they head into the new campaign. Bentley has been dealt a double blow during the close season with winger and player of the season Jamie Devitt and leading goalscorer Shaun Miller both leaving to join Carlisle United. Defenders Dean Winnard and Liam Wakefield have both joined from Accrington Stanley whilst striker Rhys Turner has signed from Oldham Athletic. He has a tough act to follow in Miller and Morecambe are likely to be battling to retain their cherished Football League status this season.