Just four years ago Morecambe won promotion to League One for the first time in their history through the 2020-21 League Two play-offs at a Covid-restricted Wembley Stadium.
Manager Derek Adams, who is currently in his third spell as Shrimps boss, left that summer but returned at the tail end of the following season to help them stay in the third tier, finishing two points above the drop zone in 19th.
It was no mean feat for a club of Morecambe’s size and stature, with wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic providing the points to keep them in a division filled with comparative giants.
Since then, though, things have quickly gone downhill for the Lancashire club.
The Shrimps were put up for sale by owners Bond Group in September 2022, but a deal has still not been completed, and two relegations in three seasons since have seen the club drop into the National League for the first time since 2007.
Late payment of wages, transfer embargoes and points deductions have all overshadowed matters on the field.
The club were docked three points late on during the 2023-24 League Two season after failing to adhere to an agreed decision imposed on them for failing to pay players’ wages on time the previous August.
They were then given a suspended two-point deduction last season for failing to report on five separate occasions the non-payment of amounts owed to HMRC within the required two working days.
With just over two weeks until the start of the upcoming 2025-26 campaign, two parties have had bids to buy the club accepted, but it is unclear how close a deal is to getting over the line.
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