MORECAMBE are targeting FA Trophy glory after their recent league disappointments.

The Shrimps have lost some of their momentum in recent weeks following the sale of defender John Hardiker to Stockport, but will still fancy their chances in the fifth round tie at Scarborough.

The Trophy field this year looks particularly open, with the Conference leaders, Dagenham and Boston, both crashing out in the early stages.

A free weekend gave Morecambe the chance to regroup after their thumping by Yeovil, and also to allow star striker Robbie Talbot another few days to recover from his long-term injury problems.

When he returns, it will put real pressure on in-form youngster Wayne Curtis and on-loan find Alex Hay, who have scored freely in the future.

Morecambe currently hold eighth place in the table, three places below local rivals Southport.

They have games in hand on all the sides above them.

Next year's Conference could be thrown into confusion by the possible bankruptcy of at least one football league club.

The league's bottom side, Halifax Town, are the latest club to be looking for new owners, along with York City and, in the division above them, Bury.

If Halifax, who now look likely to go down, go under, then the league would probably relegate no-one, meaning that the third from bottom side in the conference would be reprieved.

Should any of the clubs above Halifax be forced out of business, then the Shaymen would, according to precedent, be spared a second spell in the conference.

All of this could also have implications for the imminent restructuring of the conference and its feeder leagues.