The newly promoted Premier League club had interviewed Sammy McIlroy's right-hand man for the new position as development coach.

But it has now been announced that they have appointed former Bolton Wanderers player, Trevor Morgan to the job.

Lillis told The Visitor: "They approached me, it's not like I was touting for the job, so that was extremely flattering.

"But now I still have a great job to do here. I have made a lot of friends at Morecambe both at the club and in the town and I am enjoying every minute of it.

"Joining a Premier League club would have been a great new challenge but I have no problem with the appointment and I can now continue to give may complete 100% effort to Morecambe which I've always done."

Morgan, 51, knows Tigers boss Phil Brown from their playing days at Bolton.

He has recently been coaching in Australia and Asia, working as head coach of Sengkang Punggol FC in Singapore.

A much-travelled forward, his playing career started in 1979 with non-league Leytonstone before spells with Bournemouth, Mansfield Town, Bristol City, Exeter City, Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Bolton Wanderers , Colchester, Birmingham and in South China.

He coached at Birmingham and Exeter and in Australia, and was on a shortlist to take charge of New Zealand.

He finished playing in 1995 and went on to manage Sorrento FC before taking over at Sengkang.

He has recently been working as a football scout.