Pitch restrictions worry McIlroy

Last updated : 17 February 2011 By BBC Sport

Morecambe boss Sammy McIlroy is concerned his pre-match plans are being affected by training time being restricted at the club's Globe Arena.Building delays meant the League Two club only moved into their new facility in August, leaving little time for the new pitch to bed in properly.

McIlroy told BBC Radio Lancashire: "Our preparations were set back a little.

"The pitch was late being laid and we've been advised not to train on it as much as we'd like."

McIlroy added: "Sometimes that's hard for the players because when we were at Christie Park we could do our shape on the pitch.

"I'm not making excuses but players do need to train regularly on their home ground, so we have to train on the plastic and that's unfortunate."

Meanwhile, McIlroy believes Tuesday's 3-3 draw against Northampton could act as a spur for the remainder of the season.

The Shrimps trailed on three separate occasions at the Sixfields Stadium, and the Morecambe boss is hopeful it will see a positive sea change in results.

"It was a very spirited comeback," he said. "The way things have been going this season it would have been very easy to give up.

"But we kept going and nearly won it at the end with Paul Mullin's header just going over the bar.

"If we show that fighting spirit again we will be okay, although we need to stop giving daft goals away."

Morecambe are at home to Oxford United on Saturday.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport