Morecambe boss expects a quiet deadline day

Derek Adams anticipates an uneventful end to the domestic transfer window at the Mazuma Stadium.
Morecambe manager Derek Adams   Picture: Getty ImagesMorecambe manager Derek Adams   Picture: Getty Images
Morecambe manager Derek Adams Picture: Getty Images

The window closes at 5pm on Friday with the Morecambe boss unlikely to make any final alterations to his squad.

Not that Adams has had a quiet summer; far from it after embarking on a process of overhauling the playing staff following the early end to last season.

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In all, seven players signed new deals or had an option triggered, another 11 came in either permanently or on loan, while a further 13 departed with Barry Roche also retiring to focus on his coaching role.

It is a trend that has been repeated around the EFL with Blackpool, for example, having brought in 15 new faces while another 20 have left Bloomfield Road.

“That will be us finished for this window unless something happens quite quickly,” Adams admitted on Thursday morning, when asked about the likelihood of further transfer activity.

“We’ve done really well in the window, we’re top of the league with the lowest budget.

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“We’ve recruited very well and we’ve got players that can play in a number of positions, and give us competition for places.

“We need to have competition, the only time you can feel safe is if you continue to do well and we win games.

“As a manager, that’s what you require from your squad and we have a good squad.

“Agents go a bit quiet for a wee while (once the window closes) but it will start up again before January.”

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That squad will be put to the test in the next few weeks as Morecambe embark on another hectic run of matches.

The condensed fixture list and their Carabao Cup progress meant Adams’ men played the first four Saturdays and midweeks of the new season.

Having had two free midweeks, they now face another four consecutive weeks where they are set to play on Saturday and Tuesday with matches in the league, FA Cup and EFL Trophy.

That is unless their final EFL Trophy group stage tie against Manchester United’s youngsters is moved from its present slot of November 10.

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“Every club is going to have that,” Adams said of their busy schedule.

“Fortunately, we don’t have any injuries at this moment in time.

“We have 22 players in the squad that are ready to go and we’ve got an awful lot of games.”