Play away...

8:15am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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SAMMY McIlroy wants his Morecambe men to play their way through next season - and make a major push in League Two.

McIlroy is well aware that second season syndrome could strike but intends his men to avoid any such problems by playing the game the right way.

"People tell me that you can't win League Two by playing football," McIlroy tells the Citizen.

"But that is a nonsense. You can win any league by playing football. MK Dons, Peterborough and Hereford play the right way and they haven't done too badly this year.

"And I won promotion with Macclesfield by playing football so it can be done and that's what I want my lads to try to achieve."

As the dust begins to settle on Morecambe's debut Football League season, McIlroy is already thinking about next year.

He has released a crop of players and will go on a summer shopping spree to add extra quality.

"The things that have gone wrong are there for all to see but I can't fault the effort and commitment of my players," says the manager.

"They have been truly magnificent for me and we have come a long way in a short time.

"We have managed a top-half finish and that is a fantastic achievement in our debut season in the League but we do need to kick on.

"On Saturday at MK Dons the boys were tremendous and we could have won the game.

"MK Dons are a fantastic side and it was a real party atmosphere and that is the sort of celebration we want.

"The new ground is getting closer and I want to take this club to the next level.

"We are not going to sit back and rest on what we have done because that's when you can get kicked in the teeth.

"I want us to progress."