ANDY Mutch has walked out on Morecambe, claiming he needs a break from football.

The 40-year-old former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker decided to call time on his role as Christie Park number two after three years.

The Citizen understands the decision has been on the cards for some time.

But the final straw appears to have been Morecambe's 2-1 defeat at Dagenham and Redbridge at the weekend - a defeat which leaves the Shrimps languishing in 13th place in the Conference.

And boss Jim Harvey was not too surprised with the departure.

"I think this may have been coming for a while, Andy has been with the club for three years and has now gone away to rethink his position," says Harvey.

"He is not sure if he wants to stay in football at the moment so he has taken a break to decide what he will do next.

"I am sure he can become a manager in his own right but he needs to work out if that is what Andy Mutch wants to do. But I will wish him all the best because he has given me tremendous support over three years."

Mutch, a prolific striker alongside Steve Bull for Wolves, started his playing career at Southport and before taking over as Harvey's assistant at Christie Park was number two at Telford.

He also played for Stockport County - and is an outsider with the bookies to land the manager's job at Edgeley Park after Sammy McIlroy was sacked.

Meanwhile, the Shrimps were pleased after the third round draw for the FA Trophy paired them with minnows Sutton Coldfield Town on January 15.

"I do not know much about them," says Harvey. "But we are at home and that's what counts."