'Can't wait to get started' - Ged Brannan on Stanley return

Ged Brannan is "delighted" to be back at Stanley as assistant manager after making the tough choice to leave Morecambe.

The Shrimps confirmed Brannan’s departure just days after the end of a League Two campaign in which they finished in 15th place despite having three points deducted for failing to pay their players on time.

The 52-year-old will now work alongside John Doolan, who took charge at the Wham Stadium following the departures of long-serving duo John Coleman and Jimmy Bell earlier this year.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be back working with John, he's a fantastic manager, and he's a great friend of mine as well," Brannan told the club website.

"We've always wanted to work together and we've got an opportunity now to push on, with great support from Andy Holt and David Burgess.

"I'll always have a place in my heart for Morecambe and there's a lot of lovely people over there.

"It gives us the chance to work together and look at players, bring players in, and I can't wait to get started now."

Stanley finished 17th in League Two following a 4-1 victory against Tranmere on the final day.

Doolan added: "I'm so happy. First and foremost, Ged is a top man, but he's a top coach as well, and he's proved that when he was here with the Under-23s.

"He's gone to Morecambe and then stepped up into the manager's role, and excelled there as well.

"Ged knows everything about the club, he knows how I work, I know how he works, I know we can work together, and that's why I've asked him to come back here.

"I just want to thank the Board for helping me to get Ged back here, it's a weight off my mind, and he's now going to be part of the player recruitment, so he'll have a massive say on the players that come in."