Johal’s exit sparks fans’ Adams call

By Jon Couch

STRUGGLE: Ashvir Singh Johal has left Morecambe after five months in charge

PICTURE: Alamy

Morecambe fans are calling for the return of popular manager Derek Adams following the departure of Ashvir Singh Johal on Friday.

Adams was controversially let go from his third spell as Shrimps’ boss in August just 24 hours after the crisis-hit club were saved by new owners Pan-jab Warriors.

He was replaced by former Leicester City youth-coach Johal, who became the first Sikh to manage a British professional team.

Johal’s appointment came after a hostile rescue campaign to rid the club of former owner Jason Whittingham following their relegation from League Two.

But just five wins from 28 league games under the 30-year-old left the Shrimps five points adrift of safety with 18 games left to play.

Swathes of long-suffering supporters have taken to social media to call for the club’s owners to bring back former boss Adams, but it’s not expected to be easy to lure the 50-year-old from his current role as director of football at League One side Plymouth Argyle.

Announcing Johal’s departure, the club said: “Ashvir joined the Shrimps during a challenging period and has worked tirelessly alongside his staff to stabilise the squad, integrate new players, and represent the club with professionalism and integrity both on and off the pitch.”

Assistant manager Lee Tomlin, the former Peterborough, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest midfielder, and first-team coach Neil Wainwright, have taken interim charge.