Morecambe midfielder enjoys proving the critics wrong

Alex Kenyon admits there is a desire among the Shrimps squad to show what they are capable of after last season's dramas.
Morecambes Alex Kenyon wants a less stressful season in 2018/19Morecambes Alex Kenyon wants a less stressful season in 2018/19
Morecambes Alex Kenyon wants a less stressful season in 2018/19

Goal difference was all that kept Morecambe in the Football League thanks to their final day draw at Coventry City which relegated Barnet instead.

Only Barry Roche, Kevin Ellison and Andy Fleming have been with the Shrimps longer than Kenyon, who joined the club following Stockport County’s relegation to the then Conference North in 2013.

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The 26-year-old has played more than 150 times for the club since in helping them preserve Football League status – despite always being the bookies’ relegation favourites at the start of every season.

“One year, hopefully, they might stop tipping us to go down,” he said.

“However, I do like proving them wrong but no-one wants to be in the same position as last season again.

“Barnet and Chesterfield might have liked to have been in our position but I don’t see how people can predict what’s going to happen over the course of a season.

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“You don’t know what other clubs are doing or what the teams coming up or those coming down are going to be like.

“Tranmere and Macclesfield have come up and will want to show what they can do while the clubs who have come down will be wanting to recover by signing better players and getting back to League One.

“There are other clubs who I’ve seen have been signing a lot of players but you don’t know how they are going to fit in and how long it will take them to gel.”

Not that the Shrimps have been shy when it comes to player recruitment over the summer.

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Eight players were released in the aftermath of survival, keepers Dan Nizic and Niall Maher also departed, while Aaron McGowan turned down a contract in favour of a move to Scotland.

As a result, manager Jim Bentley has brought in seven new signings as well as loaning Liam Mandeville from Doncaster Rovers.

Kenyon was one of several senior players to sign new deals over the summer with his ability in midfield and at the back a key attraction.

“There is competition for places but I don’t mind where I play and I’ve told the manager that,” Kenyon said.

“I just want to play football; I enjoy playing in both positions and I think that helps the manager because he knows I can cover both areas.”