MORECAMBE boss Jim Harvey is warning ambitious Nationwide Conference rivals to stay away from his stars.

The Christie Park manager has vetoed a move from Mark Wright's Chester City to prise Adriano Rigoglioso away from the seaside.

And he says none of the men who took the Shrimps so close to winning a place in the Football league last term are up for grabs.

The expected Chester move for Rigoglioso finally came in the form of a five-figure bid last week - quickly rejected by the Morecambe board of directors.

Harvey, pictured, says he is pleased that the directors have backed his ambition to keep the squad together in another push for promotion.

"If we want to maintain our challenge then we have to keep these players - this is part and parcel of the job."

And he has already moved to strengthen his hand by signing defender Chris Lane from relegated Southport.

The 24-year-old is a former Everton trainee and Hereford player who was keen to continue playing at Conference level - or higher.

He has had talks at both Yeovil and Chester since signalling his desire to leave the Sandgrounders - but has chosen to bet his future on Morecambe.

Harvey says: "He is very experienced at this level and plays good football from right back. He likes to get forward and that is going to be a real plus for us with the way we play."