McIlroy signs on for another year

McIlroy has taken Macclesfield and Morecambe to the League

Morecambe manager Sammy McIlroy has signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at Christie Park until the end of the 2009/10 campaign.

McIlroy's current deal was due to expire at the end of the season.

The 54-year-old told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's been difficult recently and we're still adapting to the Football League.

"But the chairman has shown faith in me. I'm delighted to sign that extra year - I had no hesitation."

"The chairman talked about it at the start of the season before a ball was kicked - I just said 'let's carry on'."

People know about us - the main priority is to stay in the league Morecambe manager Sammy McIlroy

McIlroy arrived at Morecambe in November 2005, stepping in for Jim Harvey who had suffered a heart attack. He led the Shrimps to the play-offs that season, but lost out to Hereford.

However, the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland midfielder succeeded in guiding the club into the Football League the following year - his first full season with the club - following victory over Exeter in the play-off final at Wembley.

"Wembley was fantastic, it just shows what we can do - last year staying up was brilliant as well - now we're being tested, people know about us - again, the main priority is to stay in the league," added McIlroy.