Morecambe's race against the clock after Burnley loanee's departure

Morecambe manager Derek Adams admitted it was a busier deadline day than he had anticipated at the Mazuma Stadium.
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The Shrimps’ boss had said in advance of the window closing on Monday that he would have been surprised if there was any movement in or out of the club.

However, Burnley loanee Adam Phillips’ season-long stay was cut short as, after training with the Shrimps on Monday morning, he was recalled by his parent club and joined Accrington Stanley that afternoon.

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That gap was then filled by the loan arrival of Salford City’s Alex Denny, a deal announced inside the final hour before the window closed.

Adam Phillips' last appearance for Morecambe came against Tranmere Rovers at the weekendAdam Phillips' last appearance for Morecambe came against Tranmere Rovers at the weekend
Adam Phillips' last appearance for Morecambe came against Tranmere Rovers at the weekend

“It was 2.30pm on Monday,” Adams said when asked at what point Burnley had been in touch about Phillips.

“We didn’t envisage it happening that way because we had been in conversation with Adam’s agent and Burnley.

“It was Adam’s call. He wanted to go and test himself at a higher level.

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“Burnley asked Adam what he wanted to do and he wanted to go to Accrington.

“As we know, Adam did very well for us last season when he first came on loan and then, this season as well.

“He’s improved dramatically. He’s helped us and we’ve helped him, and it’s a good move from the point of view that he gets to move up to League One, to a team pushing for promotion there, and leaves a team looking for promotion from League Two.

“However, we’ve got Aaron Wildig hopefully coming back soon and we’ve got (Blackburn Rovers loanee) Brad Lyons as well, so we have covered ourselves in that area.”

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Denny’s loan spell with the Shrimps lasts until the end of the season and gives Adams another option in midfield.

Eyebrows might have been raised that he brought in a loanee from a fellow League Two club but the manager is pleased with the new arrival.

He said: “He’s come from Everton, having been through their academy, and Salford signed him in the summer.

“Technically, he’s a very good player who will get on the ball and make forward passes.

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“He found it difficult to get into the Salford team recently because they’ve had a change of manager, they’ve brought in Paul Coutts from Fleetwood Town and they’ve got others coming back from injury.”

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