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.”
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