Morecambe has appointed Ashvir Singh Johal as the new manager of the club, making him the first Sikh to take charge of a professional British football club. The 30-year-old succeeds Derek Adams, who was sacked by Morecambe's new owners Panjab Warriors on Monday. Singh Johal has previously worked under former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Kolo Toure during his two-month spell in charge of Wigan Athletic, and also assisted former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas at Italian club Como. Earlier this summer, Singh Johal became one of the youngest coaches in the history of the English game to complete his UEFA Pro Licence qualification. His appointment follows Morecambe's takeover by the Panjab Warriors consortium on Sunday, ending a long period of uncertainty for the National League club, who were relegated from the English Football League last season. Before joining Wigan in 2022, Singh Johal spent 10 years in various roles with Leicester City's academy, working with every elite age group to Under-18 level. Work permit issues cut short his time under Fabregas in Italy and he has most recently worked as head coach of Notts County's B team. Morecambe finished bottom of League Two, the fourth tier of English football, in 2024-25, bringing an end to their 18-year stay in the Football League. The club's suspension from the fifth-tier National League was lifted following this week's takeover and the club has said their transfer embargo will also end immediately 'once all outstanding football-related debt are paid'. Morecambe is currently scheduled to play Altrincham on Saturday in what would be Singh Johal's first game in charge and the club's first competitive match since being relegated from League Two in May. Singh Johal has described former Leicester head coach Brendan Rogers as a 'role model' and said he is 'especially grateful' to Toure and Fabregas for the opportunities at first-team level. The new manager is a product of hometown club GNG Leicester, who are linked to one of the city's, and the United Kingdom's, most renowned Sikh temples, Guru Nanak Gurdwara. Speaking to Sky Sports in 2022, Singh Johal said: 'I'm a Sikh, so my principles, the way I live my life, I follow a certain set of principles from the Sikh religion and that will not change whether I'm in football or not. Whether I'm in training sessions [or] in the dugout on a matchday, that's who I am, that's how I am and I think if that visibility provides inspiration to somebody watching then that can only be a positive thing.' The appointment of Singh Johal marks a new era for Morecambe, and the club will be looking to bounce back from their relegation under his leadership. With his experience and qualifications, Singh Johal is well-equipped to lead the club back to success. The fans will be eagerly waiting to see how the new manager performs in his first game in charge against Altrincham on Saturday.