McIlroy to stay as Morecambe boss

McIlroy is in demand after getting Morecambe promoted (Getty)

Manager Sammy McIlroy is staying at Morecambe after Shrewsbury had an approach rejected for the former Northern Ireland manager.

McIlroy announced the decision to his players during a training session on Monday.

"Sammy wanted to send out the message he's with Morecambe," the Shrimps' chief executive Rod Taylor told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"This is where his future is and we're delighted with that."

Interview: Morecambe chief executive Rod Taylor

"We're flattered that other clubs are looking at our manager, it means that there's something good going on," Taylor added.

The Shrimps chairman Peter McGuigan told BBC Radio Lancashire: "From this morning when he was seeing the players, he told them he is staying, that is definite."

McIlroy told Morecambe's website: "It's been a distraction for us at a time when we are having a blip."

I am delighted with the result of this morning's meeting Morecambe chairman Peter McGuigan

"Hopefully we can now all look forward. We have 11 games to go and 33 points to play for and I want us to end the year on a high and kick on again, starting with Wednesday's game at Accrington."

Shrimps chairman Peter McGuigan said: "We had a good, open discussion about where we want to go and we are all hoping that we can now put this distraction aside and continue to develop the club together over the next couple of years."

Shrewsbury Town are still searching for a new manager after Gary Peters left the club last week by mutual consent as the club slipped to 16th in League Two.

As rumours continue over who will be the new manager, Burton Albion's Chairman Ben Robinson told BBC Radio Shropshire he had not been approached by Shrewsbury Town to speak to Nigel Clough.