MORECAMBE are in talks with Andy Fleming about a possible move to the League Two club.

The 22-year-old turned down a new deal with Wrexham at the end of last season and Morecambe have been in hot pursuit of the player’s signature.

The two clubs are set to discuss a compensation package for the 22-year-old, who has courted interest from a number of league teams.

The Shrimps are willing to put money on the table and Fleming said he would be interested in a move away from Wrexham should the opportunity arise.

He said: “If the opportunity to move comes along I will take it because you don’t get too many chances to play at a higher level.

“My agent is handling everything and I think he’s talking to Morecambe while their people are talking to Wrexham.

“I’ll be sad to leave if it goes through but I want to be playing in the Football League because like any player I’m ambitious to go as high as possible.”

Reds’ boss Dean Saunders said: “There’s been some interest in Andy Fleming from Morecambe. We’re waiting to see what they are going to offer and we are talking about a compensation package.

“Andy has come a long way in a short space of time since I’ve been here. He won player of the year last season and we’ve had interest from a few clubs, but none have been willing to put the money on the table.

“We can’t stop players wanting to move higher up because that’s what football is about. If he goes on and does well in his career I’ll take great pleasure in watching that.

“He’s getting better all the time and he will be a good signing for some club in the Football League.”

Meanwhile, Andy Morrell was today described as the “ultimate professional” by the manager who inspired him to goalscoring glory in his first spell at Wrexham.

Former Wrexham boss and Racecourse legend Denis Smith was delighted to hear that Morrell had re-signed for The Reds when the Leader contacted him yesterday.

Smith, who was the Wrexham manager who led the club to promotion in 2003 when Morrell netted an amazing 34 goal haul, said: “Andy Morrell is first class in everything he does. And I’d have to say that he is one of the best professionals I’ve ever worked with.”

That’s high praise indeed from a man who has taken charge of more than a 1,000 matches as a manager during five decades in the game.

It was Smith who made Morrell a first team regular in the 2002/03 season and he hasn’t got a bad word to say about the 35-year-old striker, who hopes to fire Wrexham back into the Football League.

“Even when he left the club, he conducted himself in a first class manner,” added Smith.

“But that’s Andy. He is top class, the ultimate professional who works hard at all aspects of his game.

“He was good on the pitch, good off it and he worked hard. Even when he wasn’t scoring goals, you knew you were always going to get a good shift from Andy Morrell.

“He also liked scoring goals but he worked hard at that part of his game and I’m sure he’s continued to do that since moving on from Wrexham.”

And Morrell’s move back to Wrexham has not only excited former boss Smith.

“It’s the question everyone’s been asking,” said the club’s football secretary Geraint Parry. “Is Andy Morrell back with Wrexham? That’s what they’ve all been saying since the news broke that he could be coming back.

“Fans remember what a great record he had in that promotion season and many of them are excited about him coming back.”

Morrell returns to The Racecourse on a two year deal at the age of 35 but former boss Smith points to the striker’s late start in the game as being key to him lasting the pace.

“Fitness was never a problem with Andy,” added Smith. “He always kept himself in good shape. His fitness levels were excellent and maybe that had something to do with the fact that he came into the game late. He was determined to carry on playing and I wish him all the best at Wrexham.”

Smith, who was surprisingly given the push by Wrexham in 2007, is still involved in the game working for the Football Association and the Premier League as well as being chairman of the ex-Football Pro’s Association.

He hasn’t managed since being sacked by Wrexham – a decision that shocked most Reds’ fans who held Smith in high esteem for ensuring the club survived during its period in administration.

“I enjoyed my time at Wrexham but decisions are made in football that you have to accept,” added Smith.

“I think I would have kept Wrexham in the league but the most important thing is that there’s still a club there!”

- Kings Mills Reds next meeting will take place on Thursday, July 15 at 8 pm at the Kings Mills Pub.

Non-members will be made welcome and may join on the night if they wish.