Ross County appoint Morecambe manager for third spell in charge of club

Ross County appoint Morecambe manager Derek Adams for a third spell in charge of the Scottish club, of whom he’s also played for.

He returns to the Scottish Premiership club just nine years after he last left, with the 48 year old replacing Malky Mackay, who was sacked last week.

Adams had been in charge at the League Two outfit Morecambe since February 2022 and departs with the Shrimps sitting 9th in the table after their relegation last season.

His new side have gone 8 games without a victory, having only escaped the drop last season in a playoff final shootout.

🚨 Morecambe have announced manager Derek Adams has left the club to pursue an opportunity elsewhere.

He’s reportedly off to Ross County 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 pic.twitter.com/40ebK1tY9B

— The #EFL Zone (@TheFLZone) November 20, 2023

MORECAMBE STATEMENT:

Derek Adams has today left Morecambe Football Club to pursue an opportunity elsewhere.

The Board of Directors wished to retain the services of Derek Adams, but a contractual release clause was met to enable the move to progress.

CEO Ben Sadler said: “Derek has done an excellent job in challenging circumstances during his second spell with Morecambe, securing the Club’s status in League One upon his return midway through the 2021/2022 season, and building an excellent squad almost from scratch in the current season that is currently sitting just outside the League Two playoff positions, with games in hand.

“For all of that, we thank Derek and wish him the very best for the future. However, the sole focus of the Board of Directors now is to appoint the best manager to take this very special club forwards.”

Director James Wakefield added: “We have made huge progress at Morecambe Football Club over the past four years; doubling the fanbase, professionalising the organisation on and off the pitch, developing exciting young players and bringing Morecambe FC Women and MFC Community Sports closer than ever before, all despite some well-publicised ownership challenges.

“We will move decisively now to appoint the best possible First Team Manager who will take up the baton and play their part in driving that progress forwards.”

John McMahon and Ged Brannan will assume responsibility for preparing and leading the team whilst the process to appoint a new First Team Manager, which has started already, is undertaken.

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW MORECAMBE BOSS
(BetVictor – 20 Nov – 11:30am)
David Artell – 5/1
Gary Bowyer – 6/1
Gareth Ainsworth – 10/1
Leam Richardson – 10/1
Steve Cotterill – 12/1
Shaun Derry – 12/1
Scott Brown – 12/1
Joey Barton – 12/1
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – 12/1
Brian Barry Murphy – 12/1

(BetVictor – 21 Nov – 5pm)
John Coleman – 5/4
Ged Brannan – 4/1
David Artell – 6/1
Gary Bowyer – 8/1
Joey Barton – 12/1
Leam Richardson – 16/1

🎯 Top six & European football

Derek Adams explains why he has returned to Dingwall for a third time and his targets at Ross County ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/q1ucGmNh3B

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 20, 2023

DEREK ADAMS’ CAREER:

Youth career
1991–1992 – Aberdeen

Senior career
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
1992–1995 – Aberdeen
1995–1996 – Burnley – 2 games (0 goals)
1996–1998 – Ross County – 72 games (41 goals)
1998–2004 – Motherwell – 159 games (18 goals)
1999–2000 → Ayr United (loan) – 4 games (0 goals)
2004–2005 – Aberdeen – 20 games (4 goals)
2005–2006 – Livingston – 25 games (0 goals)
2006–2009 – Ross County – 36 games (4 goals)
Total – 318 games (67 goals)

Managerial career
Ross County – 4 October 2007 until 11 November 2 010 – G 154, W70, D 41, L 43, 45.5 win %
Ross County – 15 May 2011 until 28 August 2014 – G 131, W 51, D 37, L 43, 38.9 win %
Plymouth Argyle – 11 June 2015 until 28 April 2019 – G 213, W 90, D 45, L 78, 42.3 win %
Morecambe – 7 November 2019 until 3 June 2021 – G 79, W3 4, D 18, L 27, 43.0 win %
Bradford City – 4 June 2021 until 15 February 2022 – G 37, W 9, D 15, L 13, 24.3 win %
Morecambe – 24 February 2022 until 20 November 2023 – G 88, W 24, D 25, L 39, 27.3 win %
Total – G702, W278, D181, L 243, 39.6 win %

Honours

Player
Ross County
Scottish Challenge Cup: 2006–07

Manager
Ross County
Scottish First Division: 2011–12
Scottish Second Division: 2007–08
Scottish Cup runner-up: 2009–10

Plymouth Argyle
League Two runner-up: 2016–17

Morecambe
League Two play-offs: 2020–21

Individual
PFA Scotland Manager of the Year: 2011–12
League One Manager of the Month: February 2018
League Two Manager of the Month: October 2015, September 2016, December 2020

Twitter users reacted as Ross County appoint Morecambe manager Derek Adams for third spell in charge of the club…

@CRparker88: This is about as bad as Mondays can possibly get.

@RCGittins: More uncertainty and disruption we could do without! He worked wonders with meagre resources and should be thanked for that. We’ve had a great start to the season and have some great young players so hopefully can attract a good replacement. WE HAVE TO SORT OUT THE OWNERSHIP ISSUE!

@_Owxn_h8: Don’t care what anyone says he’s the king. Dealt with the off pitch stuff brilliantly. Has assembled a young and exciting squad leaving us in a promising position in the league. Not to mention where he took us in his first spell in charge.

@PromMusic: Sad to see Derek Adams has left @MorecambeFC to go to Ross County. He’s played for them twice, managed them twice, and his dad was director of football. I can see why Derek would go there and he’s got to make the right call for him and his family.

@jm_bell95: Oh Derek 😔

@djm1678: Does more running than Forrest Gump.

@harriesdon87: Morecambe and Derek Adams were the perfect fit from an outsiders point of view. Be interesting to see their next appointment and whether they will continue their brilliant season so far

@BTaylxr99: Fucking brilliant

@CWTerrace: I doubt this would have happened with changes in ownership and with a proper long-term football strategy in place. Is Derek the GOAT in terms of MFC managers? He’s definitely up there. David Artell is the name that comes to mind as a replacement. Onwards.

@Dannyowen98: Tbf he left his head in Barrow on Halloween. He may as well come and collect it on his way north of the border

@joephelan44: Gutted, unbelievable manager for us shame we don’t have any owners to back him

@SallisMichael: Not even mad at Derek for this one. Said at the start of summer he should/will leave, because he deserves so much better than what our owners are giving him. Hopefully we get our finger out and get a replacement who is as good as him

@VaniaMorozov15: Don’t cry because its over, smile because it happened

@stormcloud25: Disappointing that he’s gone. Done a brilliant job under impossible circumstances to leave us where we are. Wish him all the best at Ross County. Hope the next manager can maintain the momentum.

@JJ0u1e: This also reeks of Artell, loves the club as documented in recent interviews, is a young squad, and Morecambe are unlikely to pay compensation for someone… #CreweAlex #UTS

@OliMGraham: 🙁 can’t tell you how gutted I am about this

@GazPar81: Christmas ruined

@olivermagilll: Get the club sold to someone that cares ASAP for fuck sake.

@PowleyJacob: Predicted Morecambe to go down because I thought Adams would be in demand and that he might view other clubs as being more stable off the field than Morecambe. They’ve made an excellent start to the season but a drop off is surely the likeliest outcome now. #UTS

• In charge 60 days longer than his first spell

• Survival in 2022

• Another League One season

• Stunning start to the 2023/24 season

Let down by the fools at the top of the club who have been given far too easy a ride.

Thank you Derek. You’ve deserved far better. pic.twitter.com/jxrRCl1yEN

— 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞 𝐅𝐂 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝 🦐 🇺🇦 (@MorecambeFCFeed) November 20, 2023