Morecambe Football Club has announced the return of Derek Adams as their new first-team manager.
He's signed a deal until June 2023, with an option to extend.
Adams, who is no stranger to the Club, led the Shrimps to promotion to Sky Bet League One, seeing off Newport County in dramatic fashion in the 2020/21 League Two Play-Off Final at Wembley, before departing soon after to take the reins at Bradford City.
He left the Bantams earlier this month, and following the shock departure of Stephen Robinson to St Mirren on Tuesday, the Shrimps have moved quickly to secure his services for a second time.
The 46-year-old has a wealth of experience both as a player and a manager, winning numerous personal accolades in his native Scotland.
During his time in England, Adams led Plymouth Argyle to promotion into League One at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, as his Pilgrims side finished second, bouncing back in impressive style after losing to AFC Wimbledon in the Play-Off Final, the previous year.
He would then go onto help them achieve a seventh-place finish the following season before leaving Home Park in April 2019.
Adams’ next venture saw him replace popular and long-serving Morecambe boss Jim Bentley. Having taken over the Club bottom of the EFL, he successfully guided the club to safety in the 2019/20 season. In his first full campaign at the Mazuma Stadium, he guided the Shrimps to the Play-Offs, only missing out on automatic promotion by one point.
On arguably the finest day in the Club’s history, Carlos Mendes Gomes’ 107th minute penalty was enough to secure the Shrimps’ place in League One for the first time.
Co-Chairman Rod Taylor and Graham Howse on the return of Adams as manager said: “We are delighted to welcome Derek back as manager, as soon as Stephen Robinson had confirmed he was moving on, we started the process of finding a new manager immediately.
“Derek is someone who has already written himself into Morecambe history after leading the Club to League One level for the first time. He knows the place inside out and now returns to make further progress with us.
“He was the manager we earmarked straight away, we knew there would be a possibility that he would come back as we have a strong relationship with him, and after a whirlwind two days, we absolutely believe he is the right person to ensure our status in League One.
“We would like to thank Barry Roche for leading the team on Tuesday night against Rotherham United, which on another day, could have seen us leave South Yorkshire with a point, at least.
“This wasn’t the first time that Barry has stepped in while we looked to recruit a new manager, and we can not thank him enough for his unquestionable professionalism once again.
“We are sure you will all join us in wishing Derek the best of luck in the position, and will get behind him and the team as we look to pick up three valuable points against Ipswich Town on Saturday."
Adams added: “I am really looking forward to it, we have obviously got a challenge between now and the end of the season to stay in League One, we are in the relegation zone at this moment in time.
“I know the football club well, they were very good to me when I was here before, the co-chairmen, the board of directors, the supporters, the staff and the players were fantastic and it was an really easy decision for me to come back."
Adams will take training today ahead of the League One fixture at home to Ipswich Town this Saturday.
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