On Tuesday night, supporters were welcomed back to the Mazuma Stadium as we hosted a Q&A evening with new manager Stephen Robinson.
Robinson was joined by Co-Chairmen Rod Taylor and Graham Howse, alongside two of his own playing staff in the form of goalkeeper Jökull Andrésson and defender Ryan Delaney to complete the top-table.
The floor was open to fans to submit questions to the top table, and here are some of the best questions from the evening.
Q: So much has changed, on and off the pitch, since the Play-Off Final win at Wembley, how have you dealt with things both personally and professionally?
Stephen Robinson: “I came into the club where the manager had left and we only had three players signed for the next season and that was because the board let the manager have the final say on who was staying and who wasn’t which is very rare.
“I had to make a decision very quickly on the lads that had performed well for Morecambe that season and I kept every player I wanted to bar one, but the wheels were already in motion for that deal before I came to the club.
“We have managed to put a lot in place inside four weeks, there is a reason why these lads were successful last season and you have to give Derek [Adams] credit for that. I have put what I believe is a very competitive squad together very quickly, and there is a fight for places, we’re going to need every last drop of energy throughout this season.”
Q: Did you have any opportunities to return to management before the Morecambe job came up and why did you choose the club?
SR: “I had two offers, I won’t name them out of respect for the clubs - but one way way too quick after coming off the back of being at Motherwell for seven-years and the other was a good job in England, quite quickly after the first one and I wasn’t quite feeling it because the time wasn’t right for me.
“I made the mistake once with a club in England and I wasn’t going to make that again, there is only so many walks I can take my dog on and I started to miss football again. I heard a lot of good things - I even spoke to Derek and he gave the club a very glowing reference.
“From there I spoke to the board, the owners and they have a very similar vision to myself, I am a manager that wants to be successful, I don’t want to stand still but I also want to work with good people.
“This club reminds me so much of Motherwell, they have great people behind the scenes, the fans are passionate and the club wants to move forwards and that is exactly what I want to do also, I have a real good feeling and hopefully that will be proved right.”
Q: What attracted you to the club?
Jokull Andresson: “I obviously played here a couple of times last season, I came here on emergency loan for two games and when I played here I just felt how close the club was, just everyone and how they worked - for me coming from Iceland it was very much about being part of a family and a community.
“Being here matched that feeling that I had, everyone playing for each other and that really attracted me, I am stepping up a league now after playing in League Two last season, I know I am ready for that step up.
"The gaffer has helped me a lot, the way he gets the best out of you as a player and I feel like you can’t say no to that, this is something I want to do and this is the club that I want to play for.”
Q: Rod, Graham, you have spoken about the three-year plan in the past and have mentioned that we have already come up to League One which was one of the targets, what is the next stage of the plan and how does the next stage look?
Graham Howse: “We are already underway with the next stages of the plan, we wanted to bring in a General Manager which we have done and that was an important aspect of the football club, we are looking to continue the work on becoming a more sustainable club and League One outfit.
“We are delighted that the people of Morecambe have come out and purchased season tickets, we know there will be a fair few games that the away end will sell out, so we want you there supporting the lads and getting behind the club.”
Rob Taylor: “Getting a General Manager on board has been a massive help to us, but we need more than that, there is only so many hours in a day, but Ben’s input has been great over the past few weeks and will continue to be so.
“Martin [Commercial Manager] has done a fabulous job at attracting sponsors, I think we are at record levels and rightly so, after coming up from League Two last season, we have recently brought Ryan in as our Head of Media and Communications.
“So this is all part of the club growing, we have had some great applicants for all the jobs that have been put out there, we still want to maintain that family influence and feel, but we have to move with the division we are in and that can only be a good thing for everyone.”