Thank you Derek

[Redalert1970]

Sad think is contracts mean nothing in football for players or managers

And don’t anyone be fooled on here DEREK AS ONLY LEFT FOR MONEY

He his under pressure at Bradford already before a ball is even kicked

[Westgate Wanderer]

Good luck DA at Bratfud you wil need it! Thanks for bringing our football club back to life this past season. A poor ending to such a great football season for us, but thanks to DA we are a much more attractive club than previously to both prospective managers and players.

[Ispyshrimp]

I think everyone at the club has so much to thank Derek for IMO

For years since we moved to the new stadium we have moaned that there was a disconnection with the club and fans, the last 18 months that has closed and brought the club and fans together despite the events over the past 12-15 months and with our only connection with the team was watching ifollow games and the best of all being part of the lucky 4000 in Wembley stadium.
Sometimes a lot can be achieved by having the winning mentality and fair play for Derek noticing our faults which were part of this clubs mentality for many years being and also allowing our selves to accept the title of poor little old Morecambe, happy to just be part of the football league.
I for one have enjoyed seeing how close this team has become, all a team effort no stand out individual players separated from the team and also the levels of energy we have played at during the season, not always pretty to watch at times, granted. Being one of the highest scoring teams and knowing if we conceeded first, we would get a goal back, different from the feeling of dread in previous years.

Like other past managers we will look back and have certain things to thank them for, but being part of and watching us lift the play off final cup after winning and gaining promotion to league 1 will live with me forever, spending that time making memories with my son and fellow mates/fans will last for ever, and for that I thank Derek and hope he goes in and brings success to other fans who only dream of living what we have been privileged in doing.

Whoever comes in next, I hope they bring further success to the club and we manage to keep the nucleus of the players who deserve a chance in league 1 and show the doubters that its not always wise to write off the under dogs.

COYS

[Keith]

I think everyone at the club has so much to thank Derek for IMO...

...Whoever comes in next, I hope they bring further success to the club and we manage to keep the nucleus of the players who deserve a chance in league 1...

I agree with all of your post. With regards to the players, I'd love to see us keeping pretty much all the defence, preferably with Sam signing an extension too, so we can't lose him for nothing in 12 months time. As a unit, they clearly have an understanding and if one player isn't available, another steps in. As we're now League One, if Ryan Cooney is given another contract at Burnley, let's get him back on loan and continue his development, if released, snap him up quickly!

[SouthernFriedShrimp]

I'm a bit unsure how I feel about Adams going.
Obviously he's done a fantastic job for us at Morecambe, but at the same time it seems clear his main concern is himself. Is that a bad thing?
At the moment my main hope is that we quickly sort out a new manager and squad; achieve a solid mid-table position in League 1 next season; then the following season give a newly promoted Bradford an absolute pasting home and away - whether or not Adams has slunk back to League 2 team again.

[Keith]

I'm a bit unsure how I feel about Adams going.
Obviously he's done a fantastic job for us at Morecambe, but at the same time it seems clear his main concern is himself. Is that a bad thing?

I wish him well, but it is a shame that he didn't see us as an opportunity to develop something long term. He's certainly taken on a challenge at Bradford (assuming the worst kept secret in football is correct). His style of football won't go down well there, so he needs instant success. If he's not successful immediately AND not playing attractive football, the natives will get restless very quickly and they're not averse to over-reacting by firing managers at the drop of the hat.

[RapidShrimp]

I'm a bit unsure how I feel about Adams going.
Obviously he's done a fantastic job for us at Morecambe, but at the same time it seems clear his main concern is himself. Is that a bad thing?

I wish him well, but it is a shame that he didn't see us as an opportunity to develop something long term. He's certainly taken on a challenge at Bradford (assuming the worst kept secret in football is correct). His style of football won't go down well there, so he needs instant success. If he's not successful immediately AND not playing attractive football, the natives will get restless very quickly and they're not averse to over-reacting by firing managers at the drop of the hat.

My perspective on it all is that he doesn’t want to risk another L1 relegation which could forever tarnish his rep at that level. He’s clearly been in lengthy discussions with Bradford to make sure that the project they’re building is an attractive prospect for him, and ultimately he may feel he risks never getting a job like that again if he doesn’t take the chance while his reputation is at an all-time high.

Derek could burn down the Mazuma and spit in my cereal and I’d still probably respect what he’s done for us

[redrobo]

DA saved us and got us promoted so for that I thank him...BUT what I don't like is what appears to have been the underhand way in which he acted to get the Bratford job.

It sounds to me as though they made an approach (official or otherwise) and DA looking after himself accepted an opportunity to discuss the vacancy in December at which time he gave ( ) a verbal commitment to accept the position on the understanding that he wanted to see through our promotion push. I've no problem with that...

Purely by chance we played Bratford in the last home game of the season prior to the play offs and with full knowledge that he was to leave us he took particular notice of the Bratford team and was able to mastermind their retained list whilst still under contract to MFC. This is where my dislike and underhand way he acted begins.

He was still under contract with us and therefore in breach of that contract by the way he acted regarding the Bratford retained list.

Surely there is a case for the leagues management committee to investigate such underhand activity of our former manager....

Such activity needs to be investigated and some form of sanction taken against DA for the underhand way in which he was able to have influence in one club whilst still under contract at another.

[KenH]

Such activity needs to be investigated and some form of sanction taken against DA for the underhand way in which he was able to have influence in one club whilst still under contract at another.

Why? What good would it does us? He's gone, get over it and move on. Why waste time, energy and mental effort on something that's in the past. We can change the future, we can't change the past.

The only thing the club should learn from this is perhaps to look at the manager's contact and make it more water tight to protect the club from it happening again.

[black morse]

Such activity needs to be investigated and some form of sanction taken against DA for the underhand way in which he was able to have influence in one club whilst still under contract at another.

Why? What good would it does us? He's gone, get over it and move on. Why waste time, energy and mental effort on something that's in the past. We can change the future, we can't change the past.

The only thing the club should learn from this is perhaps to look at the manager's contact and make it more water tight to protect the club from it happening again.

Quite possibly a clause in DA's contract allowed this but perhaps he wouldn't have signed if it had not been there. If that was the case I think we would all agree that, as we got promotion out of it, it was right to have the clause in.

[redrobo]

Such activity needs to be investigated and some form of sanction taken against DA for the underhand way in which he was able to have influence in one club whilst still under contract at another.

Why? What good would it does us? He's gone, get over it and move on. Why waste time, energy and mental effort on something that's in the past. We can change the future, we can't change the past.

The only thing the club should learn from this is perhaps to look at the manager's contact and make it more water tight to protect the club from it happening again.

Not for us to investigate, that's for the League Management Committee.

If nothing is done then it allows any future manager at any club to assist his new club whilst still employed by his current club. Would your boss allow you to act for your new employer whilst still working for him...I doubt it.



DA has been officially announced as the new Bratford Manager on a 3 year contract.

[al1]

Both Cooney and Phillips have been given new contracts at Burnley

[Ispyshrimp]

Such activity needs to be investigated and some form of sanction taken against DA for the underhand way in which he was able to have influence in one club whilst still under contract at another.

Why? What good would it does us? He's gone, get over it and move on. Why waste time, energy and mental effort on something that's in the past. We can change the future, we can't change the past.

The only thing the club should learn from this is perhaps to look at the manager's contact and make it more water tight to protect the club from it happening again.

Not for us to investigate, that's for the League Management Committee.

If nothing is done then it allows any future manager at any club to assist his new club whilst still employed by his current club. Would your boss allow you to act for your new employer whilst still working for him...I doubt it.



DA has been officially announced as the new Bratford Manager on a 3 year contract.

why?, what's the point?.....how many people have told their bosses that they are going for other job interviews? i think we should just let Derek go, wish him well and move on.
Without Dereks influence in this club we wouldn't be looking forward to our first year in League 1 or it would have taken longer than anticipated to reach the level we find ourselves.
wasting time holding grudges or being angry/annoyed will take those who feel like that back a few years. The clubs in its best place it has been for many years, Directors who care about the club and the feel good factor will all wished for and voiced our concerns for many years, lets just enjoy what we now have and look forward to next season.

[red shrimp]

Credit to Derek for masterminding our promotion whilst also having one eye on Bradford. The mans a genius.

[KenH]

Would your boss allow you to act for your new employer whilst still working for him...I doubt it.

As long as it didn't affect performance in the current job, yes, what's the problem? I've done exactly that a couple of times. The last time was when I was setting up my own business which was in exactly the same profession/location as the employment. Most people have to work their notice. Sometimes that's as little as a week, but sometimes it can be up to 3/6 months if you're in a senior position. During that time, your mind is always going to be on the new job, but you also have to carry on your existing job to the same standard. In Derek's case, there's no doubt whatsoever that his duties as Morecambe's manager didn't suffer - the evidence is there - play off success, Wembley promotion, etc. MFC wouldn't have achieved that if Derek wasn't giving 100% to MFC over the past few weeks. The fact that he (allegedly) has also been thinking about/working on his next job, presumably in his spare time, is neither here nor there because it clearly hasn't affected his MFC job!

[redrobo]

I just find working on a retained list for your next employer whilst still conduct team affairs for your current one totally unprofessional and questions the guys integrity.... but maybe I'm wrong.

Obviously time to move on but his actions don't sit well with me....

[RapidShrimp]

I just find working on a retained list for your next employer whilst still conduct team affairs for your current one totally unprofessional and questions the guys integrity.... but maybe I'm wrong.

Obviously time to move on but his actions don't sit well with me....

If anything it shows how professional DA is to have achieved promotion through the pressure-cooker that is the playoffs whilst having his next role in mind. Get over it

[Phil Anderer]

Whilst initially surprised and a little disappointed, I suppose I can see his reasons, albeit it does seem touched by a little cowardice at being unwilling to risk his reputation in League 1. Nevertheless, he did the job we all wanted him to do, and achieved it even while sorting things out with Bratford, so I'll hold no grudge, thank him for what he's done, wish him well, and hope we get a manager who can make us competitive in League 1. I have every faith in Rod and the team to do their level best for us in that regard.

[Keith]

I just find working on a retained list for your next employer whilst still conduct team affairs for your current one totally unprofessional and questions the guys integrity.... but maybe I'm wrong.

Obviously time to move on but his actions don't sit well with me....

If we'd lost to Tranmere, I'd be agreeing with you, but surely, the proof of the pudding is in the eating? He couldn't have done anything more for us than he did. He got us promoted. End of. As long as we won the play-off, he could have run around Wembley with his willy hanging out, and I wouldn't have cared!

[Sakhalin Shrimp]

I just find working on a retained list for your next employer whilst still conduct team affairs for your current one totally unprofessional and questions the guys integrity.... but maybe I'm wrong.

Obviously time to move on but his actions don't sit well with me....

If we'd lost to Tranmere, I'd be agreeing with you, but surely, the proof of the pudding is in the eating? He couldn't have done anything more for us than he did. He got us promoted. End of. As long as we won the play-off, he could have run around Wembley with his willy hanging out, and I wouldn't have cared!

As a supposed man of integrity he could have fulfilled the contract he signed, I seem to remember him being a trifle miffed when Adam Phillips decided not to fulfil the one he’d signed with us.

[marky No.1]

League One, be happy, never thought I would see it, just need to close the gap on Sunderlands 22,000 season ticket sales

[black morse]

League One, be happy, never thought I would see it, just need to close the gap on Sunderlands 22,000 season ticket sales

Think we need a new stadium

[fulwoodshrimp]

This euphoria about Adams getting us promoted is a little false if as a result of him leaving and taking several players with him we are relegated back to League 2. We will have not benefited whilst he has restored his damaged reputation. What he will not restore in my eyes is his reputation as a man of integrity. He has failed to honour his contract and discussing joining Bradford whilst employed by MFC is unprofessional in my book.

[Keith]

We will have not benefited whilst he has restored his damaged reputation.

I never thought I'd see Morecambe playing Ipswich, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday in League matches. We can finish bottom and it will still be amazing.

This euphoria about Adams getting us promoted is a little false if as a result of him leaving and taking several players with him we are relegated back to League 2.

More exposure, more income, increased sponsorship & parachute payments if we are relegated all set us up potentially for longer term development. Staying in League One is obviously the goal, but even coming back down isn't a disaster.

What he will not restore in my eyes is his reputation as a man of integrity. He has failed to honour his contract and discussing joining Bradford whilst employed by MFC is unprofessional in my book.

I can understand that point of view, but I suspect [guessing, not evidence] that it was in his contract all along that he could talk to other clubs as long as they agreed to meet a compensation clause. If that was the case, the club knew this was coming. I'm just thankful that it didn't happen last January, that would have screwed us over. He was in discussions with Bradford, yet still focussed enough to get us promoted.

Third Round FA Cup & promotion in the same season? Can't ask for more than that.

[black morse]

We will have not benefited whilst he has restored his damaged reputation.

I never thought I'd see Morecambe playing Ipswich, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday in League matches. We can finish bottom and it will still be amazing.

This euphoria about Adams getting us promoted is a little false if as a result of him leaving and taking several players with him we are relegated back to League 2.

More exposure, more income, increased sponsorship & parachute payments if we are relegated all set us up potentially for longer term development. Staying in League One is obviously the goal, but even coming back down isn't a disaster.

What he will not restore in my eyes is his reputation as a man of integrity. He has failed to honour his contract and discussing joining Bradford whilst employed by MFC is unprofessional in my book.

I can understand that point of view, but I suspect [guessing, not evidence] that it was in his contract all along that he could talk to other clubs as long as they agreed to meet a compensation clause. If that was the case, the club knew this was coming. I'm just thankful that it didn't happen last January, that would have screwed us over. He was in discussions with Bradford, yet still focussed enough to get us promoted.

Third Round FA Cup & promotion in the same season? Can't ask for more than that.

No we can't ask more than that Keith but I do not share your view that relegation back to league 2 wouldn't be a disaster. It might not be a disaster but so many clubs get relegated and the momentum carries them to the bottom of the lower division. I personally would be very worried if we drop back down. That, however, is the future and we should just enjoy the ride wherever it takes us