Morecambe manager eyes strengthening his squad with the new National League North season set to start

Adam Lakeland is still looking to boost his Morecambe squad ahead of their National League North opener against Spennymoor Town at the Halo Aerospace Stadium on Saturday, writes DEREK QUINN.

While the new Shrimps boss is happy with the progress made by his new-look side in pre-season, he would like more experience to bolster his squad for the season ahead.

Lakeland said: “I want to bring two or three more bodies in.

“I think it has been obvious in most of our games pre-season, but specifically in the games against AFC Fylde and Barrow, that when we have had to make quite a few changes we are considerably weaker.

“That’s nothing against the younger players and it is nothing against the lads we have had in and been having a look at, but it is just a fact.

“I think, numbers one to 16, we are very strong when everyone is fit but we are a bit thin on the ground, which you can see by the way we have gone into protection mode in the last 15 minutes of the last couple of games.

“In the main though I am pleased with the way the players have worked over the past five weeks.

“Out of possession we look good and will get better, but we need to strengthen at the top end of the pitch and we will continue to work on that.

“With the amount of change there has been at this football club over the summer, I think we have looked quite good in pre-season to be honest.

“The players have come together really well and applied themselves every day but for us to kick on, I think we need to bring a couple of bodies in.

“We are certainly looking and have been close to bringing in a couple in recent weeks, only for them to go to clubs higher up.

“We are aware of the issues and are working on them but, at the moment, have not been able to get anyone across the line.

“Overall though, the players have got on with things and we will just look to kick on and get even better as the season goes on.”

Lakeland has called on the Shrimps’ supporters to get behind his team and make the Halo Aerospace Stadium a place other teams will fear visiting.

He said: “We need this place to be a fortress because teams will look forward to coming here and will make things challenging for us.

“That is something we have to be ready for and something we will have to handle.

“It (Spennymoor) is going to be a difficult game but every game will be hard for us, home and away, and we have to make sure we are ready for that and I have no doubts we will be.”