Morrell happy to have joined Shakers

11:10pm Wednesday 13th August 2008

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ANDY Morrell believes it was a relatively easy decision to make the move to Bury and, in the process, turn down the chance of remaining a Championship player.

The Shakers pulled off something off a coup when they landed the 33-year-old on Saturday evening, and he has a scoring record that will have the Gigg Lane faithful drooling.

Morrell was Blackpool’s top scorer with 20 goals in the 2006-07 season, and he netted 34 times in 45 games for Wrexham six years ago. He had an offer to stay with the Tangerines, and there were other clubs in for him, but the prolific frontman was sold on Bury.

“It was a quick move for me, the interest came last week and moved fairly quickly from there,” said Morrell. “I met the manager and came to have a look around, plus I also had a couple of other options, but coming to Bury just felt right. The gaffer sold it to me really well and I’m happy to be here.

“Alan did sell it well, plus I’ve also had good reports from others that have worked with the gaffer. They have all said he is a good coach and he wants players to get better and, even though I am 33, I think I can do that. It seems to be a club that is going in the right direction and, hopefully, I can help that.”

Morrell, who watched Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Brentford from the stands, added: “I have come from a Championship club to a League Two club that has battled with relegation for the last three years.

“It is a bit of a gamble, but I gambled when I went to Blackpool from Coventry and they lost the first three games of the season, but in the end it turned out all right.

“I get a gut feeling for places and so far I've got it right on my two previous moves and this just felt the same. It feels like the club has been through tough times but it is coming out of that and heading in the right direction. Hopefully I can be a big part of it.”

Knill was delighted to bring Morrell to the club, and enthused: “We are delighted he has come to us.

“He had plenty of other offers, he could have stayed in the Championship, but he likes what we want to do and he believes what we are trying to do.

“If we had heard any other team in the division had signed Andy Morrell, we would have said it was a decent signing, so it's a great effort from the football club to get him here.

“We have signed somebody with a track record of scoring goals who has played at a really good level. He could still play at that level but he has chosen to come to us.

“It isn't because we have thrown the most money at him. He has joined us because he wants to be part of what we are trying to do here.”