Morecambe boss proud after 2 games in 3 days after couple of training sessions with 13 new signings

Morecambe boss Ashvir Singh Johal says he is proud after 2 games in 3 days and a couple of training sessions with 13 new signings.

Ashvir said in a tweet on Tuesday: “Two games in three days after only a couple of training sessions, the lads gave everything. I couldn’t be prouder of their effort and commitment.

“This is just the start. Hard work and growth will take us where we want to be.

“A big thank you to the fans who made the long trip to support us yesterday. Your energy will play a huge part in our journey this season. There will be challenges along the way, but you’ll always see a team that gives everything.”

Morecambe play their first game since completing their takeover in a busy week with as many as 13 new signings joining the club.

The Shrimps got their 2025/26 National League season underway, having had their first three games postponed due to a league suspension for rule non-compliance.

Saturday was the start of a new era at the club, playing against Altrincham, and Ashvir’s side came out 2-1 winners in their opener.

However, it was tougher for their second game, having held Aldershot to a 0-0 draw in the first half, they were hammered 4-0.

Two games in three days after only a couple of training sessions, the lads gave everything. I couldn’t be prouder of their effort and commitment.

This is just the start. Hard work and growth will take us where we want to be.

A big thank you to the fans who made the long trip to… pic.twitter.com/RaAL0eq3wS

— Ashvir Singh Johal (@AshvirJohal) August 26, 2025

Morecambe are now able to sign players after their transfer embargo was lifted. A takeover by the Panjab Warriors consortium was completed Sunday, leading to manager Derek Adams’ sacking Monday and his replacement by Ashvir Singh Johal (England’s first Sikh professional manager).

Creditors were paid, clearing the embargo. BBC Sport understands that the club had only five contracted players on Monday. They have since made 12 new player signings, with plenty more to come.

– Panjab Warriors takeover Morecambe
– Derek Adams departs Morecambe
– Ashvir Singh Johal appointed new manager
– Danny Grainger departs Morecambe
– Ian Hutton named as new head of physical performance
– Mo Sangare signs
– Lee Tomlin appointed assistant manager
– Harrison Panayiotou becomes second signing
– Raheem Conte becomes third signing
– Archie Mair re-joins
– Ludwig Francilette becomes fifth signing
– Ben Williams becomes sixth signing
– Jake Cain becomes seventh signing
– Alie Sesay becomes eighth signing
– Daniel Ogwuru becomes ninth signing
– Jonathan Stewart appointed as new goalkeeper coach
– Admiral Muskwe becomes tenth signing
– Joe Nuttall becomes eleventh signing
– Ma’kel Campbell becomes twelfth signing
– Miguel Azeez becomes thirteenth signing

Morecambe’s lineup for Altrincham game:

Morecambe: Mair, Hendrie, Conte (Ogwuru, 77′), Francillette, Edwards, Panayiotou, Cain, Williams (Campbell, 67′), Lewis, Tollitt, Songo’o

Subs not used: Scales, Dobson, Fairclough

Goals: Tollitt (6′), Ogwuru (90+8′)

Bookings: Edwards, Williams

Red cards:

Morecambe’s lineup for Aldershot game:

Morecambe: Mair, Conte, Francillette, Edwards, Panayiotou, Cain, Lewis (Hendrie, 57′), Tollitt (Williams, 68′), Campbell (Wright, 96′), Ogwuru (Dobson, 96′), Songo’o (C)

Subs not used: Scales, Goodyear

Goals:

Bookings: Conte, Tollitt, Lewis

INTERVIEWS:

Ashvir said on Ian Hutton being named the new Head of Physical Performance: “I’d like to welcome Ian to the club. He is a fantastic physical performance coach who will lead all aspects of the physical performance side of the club.

“He has direct experience working with managers who have gained promotion from the National League to League Two and fully understands what it takes to build a successful performance department.

“He has worked with clubs who share similar football philosophies to the ones we are implementing.

“I was introduced to Ian by mutual friends and instantly knew that when I became a manager, I would want him to be my physical performance coach.

“His work with Luke Williams at Notts County was outstanding and directly contributed to the development of a football team that dominated games with the ball and physically were one of the best teams in the league.”

Speaking on Sangare’s arrival, Ashvir said: “Mo is someone who we identified straight away. Someone who will fit right into what we’re trying to build at Morecambe.

“He has a lot of EFL experiences and he has got the required skill set that is going to help us compete straight away in the National League. He has the mentality we’re looking for, he’s got that winning mindset and he wants to push to improve and get better and ultimately win games.

“Mo’s characteristics as a player will exactly fit the style of play we’re trying to build here. I can’t wait to work with him.”

Ashvir on Panayiotou: “Really pleased to have Harry with us and I’m glad that he has joined us at Morecambe.

“It was important for us that we had players in the building who have experience in the league so he understands exactly what it takes to win games at this level. As equal to that, from a style of play point of view, he’s exactly what we’re looking for.

“We’re looking for someone who is going to press aggressively, who’s going to give us all in the games, someone who is never going to give up and win the ball, he’s got the quality to drop and link play between the lines, or who can run in behind.

“He’s someone who we think can be really effective in the final third and help us create and score goals this season and hopefully help the team play an entertaining brand of football.”

Ashvir on Lee Tomlin: “Lee is someone I have known for a very long time. I knew that when I became a manager Lee was the person I wanted to be my assistant manager.

He had a fantastic playing career and has played in all the divisions of English professional football, including the Premier League.

He’s now gone into coaching after playing, and he’s worked at some great clubs. Lee has experience at Leicester City and then he was at Sheffield United so for me to bring him here as assistant manager is something that I’m really proud of.

The manager on Conte: “I’m delighted that Raheem has joined us at Morecambe. He is someone whose career I have followed for some time now. He has had good exposure to Cardiff’s first team, playing in the Championship and EFL Cup.

“Raheem is a versatile player. He’s a midfielder but he can also play full back. We see him as a full back, he’s left footed. We think he has all the attributes that can help us get to the next level.

“He’s athletic, he’s quick, but most important is his intelligence and his football brain to help us be successful on the football pitch.

“We think he will really enjoy our training processes, how we work, and we think we can help take him to the next level as a player, but we really think he can help us with our aims of being in the EFL again.”

Ashvir on Mair: “Archie was our number one target as a goalkeeper, we were eager to get him in the building and he’s excited to get going. He’s a young goalkeeper but the experience he’s had will help shape the mentality we have here.”

“He will use this opportunity to springboard his career, and if he can help the club back to where it needs to get to, that will help him take his career to the next level.”

“His skillset is outstanding, the way he plays with the ball at his feet is a perfect fit for how we want the team to play.”

Ashvir said: “Really pleased to get Ludwig. He is someone who fits the profile we’re looking for in our defenders. On the ball, he is very comfortable, drawing players in, or playing into space. He is a very intelligent player, he understands how to use the pressure of the opponent to make the most appropriate pass and defensively he is fantastic.

“Ludwig is very experienced in the National League and we’re delighted to have him with us.”

Ashvir said: “We are delighted that Ben has decided to join us at Morecambe. Ben is a player who I’ve known of for a long time.

“He is a left back who has played multiple games in the League One and League Two so he is very experienced across the EFL and at a high level. He is someone who we know will be ready to make an impact straight away in the National League and help us push towards our objectives as a club.

“We’re really looking forward to working with him and I’m delighted to see that our squad is starting to take shape.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkU379vcdco&pp=0gcJCa0JAYcqIYzv

Ashvir: “I’m delighted to have Alie. He is someone who has played in the EFL and then he moved abroad for the last few years to try different footballing experiences in different countries.

“He is someone who will definitely help us compete and win games in the National League. Alie is a leader and a model professional, he leads by example and the younger players can look up to him.”

Ashvir: “Daniel is a really exciting young player and we’re really pleased to have him here at Morecambe. He’s a striker who suits exactly the way we want to play.

“Daniel has been at two very good category one academies in Manchester City and Norwich. We know that he will be someone that is hungry to develop, learn and improve as a football player and contribute to the main goal of helping this team do as well as we can this season.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXZNoae19YI

Ashvir: “He has big experience in the EFL, he’s played in the Championship. Admiral is a very, very hard working striker who, in the box, is very confident at finishing from a variety of situations.

“We think he is going to be a big success at Morecambe and he is someone that fans are going to be really excited to see.

“Admiral has great energy, he’s very positive and we are sure he is going to contribute towards achieving our goals for the season.”

Ashvir: “Joe is a striker who we have identified over the last few days as someone who we think will be a really useful part of what we’re trying to build at the club.

“He came through the Academy a Manchester City and he has a lot of National League experience. We think he is someone that can make an impact and score goals that help the team get back to where it needs to be, but also is a fantastic fit for the style of play and the brand of football we are looking to play.”

Ashvir: “He is a player that I actually coached against many times when he was a young player coming through at Fulham.

“Ma’kel always stood out as one of the best players on the pitch whenever we played against him and he is technically fantastic.

“He has a great footballing brain and has a lot of energy. We are really happy that he has decided that Morecambe is the best place for the next stage in his development.

“We feel like we can help him get to the next step and become a better player, we’re sure that he fans are going to really enjoy watching him play.”

Ashvir on Miguel: “I’m really happy that Miguel decided to join us, there was interest from clubs all over Europe, competing in high leagues.”

“Once we presented the project to him, and what we want to achieve here, he turned down those offers to join us. It’s a true testament to what we’re trying to build here.”

“I think he’s a player that the fans are gonna love, he’s got an incredible footballing brain, a midfielder that really controls the game and will always give his all.”