New Faces at Morecambe as Cambridge match is called-off.

The Shrimps’ visit to Cambridge United scheduled for today was called-off yesterday due to wind damage to the Main Stand at the Abbey Stadium which has rendered it structurally unsafe. Here is a photo of the apparently catastrophic damage which has led to this decision, which some cynics suggest has more to do with damage to Amber Army players and a chance for them to recuperate, rather than the stadium itself:

Be that as it may, there is plenty to report on this week, though, as far as comings and goings at the Mazuma Stadium are concerned.

During the week, Dylan Connolly had his contract with Morecambe cancelled by mutual consent. Dylan looked like a man possessed last season once King Derek returned to the club and played a key role in keeping it in the division. Since then, though, he has been at best a peripheral figure and resumed the form he showed after Stephen Robinson initially signed him – running around like a headless chicken on the few occasions he was introduced as a substitute in recent times. Let’s hope the Irishman can rediscover his undoubted talent somewhere else, for his sake at least.

In his place, another `DC’ – 26-year-old Daniel Crowley – has returned from a sojourn in Holland with upper tier club Willem II to sign for the club. The ex-Barnsley, Birmingham City and Cheltenham midfielder has had two spells with the Dutch club. He has also been on-loan at Hull City and Oxford United in the past and has played at Youth level for both England and the Republic of Ireland. Much is expected of him by Manager Derek Adams:

“Daniel is a really talented player, and is someone we are really pleased to have here. He can play as a number ten, a midfield player or out wide, and he brings a real ability to open up defences and create assists and score goals from various positions. He’s played in the Championship here in England and played in the top division in Holland, so between now and the end of the season, he’s going to be a really good signing for us.”

Anthony O’Connor also moved from the club this week. The Irish central defender has signed for League Two Harrogate Town having also agreed to have his contract at Morecambe torn-up. I personally think he was the most improved player from the bunch that rotten old Robbo brought to the squad last season. His goal to put the team in front against Spurs on their own patch last season has already gone down in the annals of club history. As Skipper, he was possibly unfairly criticised for not being sufficiently vocal but I thought his performances as last season wore on improved tremendously and nobody who saw him after the tremendous win at Fleetwood following Cole Stockton’s wonder goal could doubt his commitment to the cause. I thought he looked pretty good in nearly all his appearances for the Shrimps earlier this term. So good luck to him on the other side of the Pennines. They might do worse than to play him up-front. The finish he came up with to reduce the arrears against Plymouth last month was out of this world and one any top quality striker would be really proud of.

In a recent interview, King Derek promised another signing either next week or the week after. So the enforced lay-off tomorrow may give him the chance to integrate Daniel Crowley and Dynel Simeu – the central defender in his second week with the Shrimps – into a new-look line-up to continue Derek’s latest crusade to keep his club in League One.