MORECAMBE have announced manager Derek Adams has left the Sky Bet League Two club after a release clause was activated in his contract.
Adams has been linked with a return to former side Ross County in Scotland following the dismissal of Malky Mackay last week.
The club stressed they wanted to keep Adams at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, but a "contractual release clause was met to enable the move to progress".
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Morecambe CEO Ben Sadler told the club's official website: "Derek has done an excellent job in challenging circumstances during his second spell with Morecambe, securing the club's status in League One upon his return midway through the 2021-2022 season, and building an excellent squad almost from scratch in the current season that is currently sitting just outside the League Two playoff positions, with games in hand."
The 48-year-old, who first took over at the Shrimps between November 2019 and June 2021, returned to the club in February last year and managed to retain their League One status.
They were relegated to League Two last season and sit just two points adrift of the play-off places in their bid for an immediate return to the third tier.
Director James Wakefield added: "We will move decisively now to appoint the best possible first-team manager, who will take up the baton and play their part in driving that progress forwards."
Coaches John McMahon and Ged Brannan will take interim charge until a new manager is appointed.
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