Former Blues captain and Reds boss Grainger lands League Two role

Former Carlisle United captain and Workington Reds manager Danny Grainger has joined one of the Blues' League Two rivals.

The Cumbrian has been appointed assistant manager at Morecambe.

It is Grainger's first role back in the game after he stepped down as Reds boss at the end of last season.

He will be No2 to the returning Derek Adams at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.

That will mean at least three encounters with his former club in 2024/25, with Morecambe to face Carlisle twice in the league and also in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

Grainger's move to the Lancashire club comes two months after the end of his second spell at Borough Park.

The 37-year-old always stressed he did not have another position lined up and would be taking time to weigh up his next move.

He said he is now ready to make the next step in his coaching career with the Shrimps.

He told Morecambe's website: "When the phone call came to work with someone as experienced as the gaffer, it was a no-brainer.

"To be able to come in, push on and keep developing my own coaching ability is something I’m excited for.

“I’ve known Derek from playing against his teams as a player and then as a coach. I spoke to him when I first started coaching and he’s always been at the end of the phone for a bit of advice, and we’ve had a good relationship from there.

“Having played at Morecambe numerous times, I know a few people behind the scenes, and I know what the club is about.

"Whenever I’ve played there, there’s always been a real family feel around the place and that to me is very important.

“The gaffer has been successful in this league, I’d like to think I’ve got experience there from being a League Two captain so fingers crossed we can gel together quickly, get the squad ready and make sure we hit the ground running.”

Adams, who has returned for a third spell as Morecambe boss, said Grainger would be "a great addition to the football staff.”

It will be Grainger's second full-time coaching role in the professional game, after a spell as assistant at Falkirk in between his two periods as Workington manager.

Morecambe, amid financial uncertainty, have a major recruitment job ahead after the departure of the bulk of their first-team squad after the 2023/24 campaign.