Morecambe boss makes feelings clear on scrapping FA Cup replays ahead of Chelsea clash
Morecambe boss makes feelings clear on scrapping FA Cup replays ahead of Chelsea clash
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Morecambe boss Derek Adams claims the decision to scrap FA Cup replays will cost lower-league clubs hundreds of thousands of pounds. Morecambe face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and Adams would love to have the opportunity to bring them back to their Mazuma Stadium. Adams says the third-round tie could be worth £350,000 to the Shrimps, but says the hard-up club could have made even more if there were still replays.
Morecambe, who are next to bottom of League Two, have been waiting nearly two-and-a-half years for a takeover to happen and Kuljeet Singh Momi is in talks with owner Jason Whittingham. “I don’t think it’s right and I think we should have that,” said Adams.
“It’s the same as Premier League teams not wanting to have a European Super League. It’s the same ethos and we want to try and generate as much money for our own club, but the rules are the rules. “I know we have been compensated in a certain way in that the winners get X amount of money and the losers now get Y, but it doesn’t equate to what it would have been if there was a replay.”.
Adams was Plymouth boss when they drew 0-0 at Anfield in 2017 to bring Liverpool back to Home Park for a money-spinning replay. Jurgen Klopp’s side narrowly won thanks to a Lucas Leiva goal and Adams says the windfall of nearly £1million helped transform Argyle.
“Those were the days when you were able to get a draw in the FA Cup and get a replay and unfortunately, that’s been taken away from the lower-division teams this season,” said the Scot, who is in his third spell at Morecambe. “We were able to get a 0-0 draw and have a replay back at Home Park, where it was sold out.
