Morecambe boss Derek Adams apologised to fans as his side’s relegation from the Football League after 18 years was confirmed following Easter Monday’s 3-1 League Two defeat at home to Salford.
The Shrimps needed to win the game to have any hopes of staying up but goals from Ossama Ashley, former Morecambe forward Cole Stockton and Kelly N’Mai gave the Ammies the three points, while the hosts could only find the target once through skipper Yann Songo’o.
Adams said: “I just want to apologise on behalf of everyone at the football club. It’s been a really difficult season and a really difficult number of seasons and it’s hard for the supporters who’ve seen their club fall down a league.
“A lot of things have led to this and as manager, it is important I take stock and speak on behalf of everyone to say that we have tried our best.
“We were limited at the start of the season with an embargo until July and then a soft embargo in the January window as well and it led to a point that made it very difficult.
“We were left with a budget that was reduced from last season and we just haven’t had the ability to win games regularly.
“We were without 11 players today and I knew it was going to be very difficult but everyone tried their best and were just short.”
While Morecambe went down, Salford remain looking up with head coach Karl Robinson still eyeing a play-off spot after battling back from a disappointing defeat to Accrington on Friday.
He said: “If you look back at our performance levels over the past two months, to put in a performance like we did when we lost on Good Friday, that was so unlike us.
“To find the level we did today was exceptional and I am over the moon but it doesn’t mean anything has been achieved.
“I thought the first few minutes today we were under pressure and our goal probably came against the run of play but from then, I thought we were on another level.
“You have to learn from what you have faced but I thought the players were great today. They put us under pressure for the first few minutes but from then on I thought we were on another level.
“I thought our calmness throughout the game was paramount and I am so proud of them and people are believing a little bit now.
“We still have to learn and be better but for the fans to show the noise they did and to see that we are real contenders for the play-off is something not many expected.
“It’s something people didn’t think we would do so I am immensely proud of everyone and there’s so much more to come.”
Jim Goodwin paid tribute to his dogged Dundee United side following the 2-1 comeback win over Aberdeen which clinched fourth place and a European spot.The Terrors, who returned to the William Hill Premiership this season, had lost their four post-split matches going into the final fixture against the Dons, who were two points ahead and looking in fine fettle when Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels score...
Barry Ferguson was left infuriated by one of the worst decisions he has ever seen and called for the introduction of goal-line technology after Rangers were on the wrong end of a pivotal first-half call in their season-concluding 2-2 draw away to Hibernian.With Gers leading through an early Cyriel Dessers strike, Nico Raskin looked to have put them two ahead in the 15th minute but Hibs defender Ro...
AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson believes the toughness of his side has driven them to the League Two play-off final after they defeated Notts County 1-0 at Plough Lane.An early strike by Josh Neufville gave the Dons a 2-0 aggregate victory that was as deserved as it was hard-earned.The South London outfit have not let in a goal in the last three games, and further demonstrated why their defe...
Dundee United clinched a European place after leapfrogging Aberdeen into fourth place in the William Hill Premiership with a stunning 2-1 comeback win.Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels scored his first goal for the Dons since signing on loan from Preston in January after 15 minutes with the visitors controlling the game.United gradually came back into it and in the 56th minute defender Declan Gallagher...
Rangers were left to lament a contentious first-half moment as they ended a largely dispiriting William Hill Premiership campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Hibernian.Second-placed Gers went ahead early on through top scorer Cyriel Dessers and felt they should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Nico Raskin looked to have forced the ball over the line. However, play was waved on and Hibs ...
James Forrest gave Celtic fans the finale they craved as he equalised in stoppage time against St Mirren to extend his run of scoring for the club to 16 consecutive seasons.Forrest left it until the league season was 38 games old to get off the mark on a day when he was chosen to deliver the William Hill Premiership trophy to his team-mates ahead of Callum McGregor lifting it for the fourth year r...
AFC Wimbledon secured their place in the League Two play-off final as they defeated Notts County 2-0 on aggregate.An early strike by Josh Neufville gave the south London side a 1-0 second-leg victory at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.The Dons will face Walsall at Wembley on Monday, May 26 for a place in League One.With veteran striker David McGoldrick ruled out because of injury, and Alassana Jatt...
David Martindale believes the pressure is off his Livingston side after they booked their place in the Premiership play-off final with a comfortable victory over Partick Thistle.The Lions progressed 4-0 on aggregate, securing a second 2-0 win with Jamie Brandon’s opener added to by Stevie May’s stunning half-volley.They will now face either Dundee or Ross County over two legs, with the...
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca pointed to Marc Cucurella’s Barcelona connections after the defender headed the only goal against Manchester United to keep his side’s Champions League hopes in their own hands.The 26-year-old got on the end of Reece James’ cross in the 71st minute to power home his seventh goal of the season and rescue the Blues just as two vital points looked to ...
Walsall boss Mat Sadler said guiding the Saddlers to a play-off final is the proudest moment of his footballing career after they completed a 4-1 aggregate win over Chesterfield.Late goals from Charlie Lakin and Levi Amantchi – with an Armando Dobra consolation for the Spireites in between – earned Walsall a 2-1 victory on the night.And it provided a measure of redemption for a side wh...
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 3 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 4 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 5 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Walsall’s ‘fighting performance’ after win in play-off first leg
- 7 David Gray thanks Hibernian board for showing faith in him after securing third
- 8 Airdrieonians earn first-leg lead over Cove in play-offs
- 9 Flick lauds Yamal, as Barca nears title
- 10 Arsenal offer £135k deal to seduce target