Morecambe set out their aim to be a competitive League One club by 2024

The announcement was made on Friday as part of a vision and strategy for the club following its centenary year in 2020.

It came after a series of meetings involving co-chairman Rod Taylor, directors Charlie Appleyard and James Wakefield, as well as staff and associated organisations.

Having been an EFL club since 2007, the Shrimps have found themselves up against clubs with higher attendances, wage bills, profiles - or all three.

Manager Derek Adams has previously spoken about his desire to change the mindset of everyone involved at the Mazuma Stadium and to banish the club’s ‘little old Morecambe’ reputation.

The players are striving to do their bit, heading to Barrow AFC tomorrow and looking to break back into the League Two play-off places.

Outlining the desire to be ‘a competitive and sustainable League One club by 2024’, the club’s statement said there was also the purpose of being: “A focal point of courage, confidence and pride for Morecambe and the whole of North Lancashire, through success on and off the pitch and close co-operation between all the component parts that make Morecambe Football Club what it is; a real force for good for the town and wider area.”

“Sustainability is key to the club’s new approach. The aim is not just to win promotion to League One, but to be able to truly compete under our own steam at that level.

“This can’t be achieved overnight, so the plan spells out what is going to be required over the next three years to make the vision a reality.”

As well as delivering success on the field, the project also includes a series of targets to be achieved off it in addition to a new club logo, due to be introduced from the 2021/22 season onwards.

The statement continued: “Initial projects include hiring a general manager to manage all non-football operations, building closer partnerships with ‘MFC Family’ organisations, such as MFC Community Sports, Morecambe Ladies FC, the MFC Academy and Shrimps Trust, and making improvements to every aspect of the MFC matchday experience and day-to-day operations.”

Taylor added: “We have just celebrated our centenary, so what better than to start our second 100 years with an ambitious yet achievable plan to set us up for future success?

“The feedback has been immensely positive from everyone so far. Time to get cracking!”

Further information will be announced in due course.

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