Hull boss Phil Brown has earmarked Lillis as one of five candidates for a 'development coaching' role. Lillis has been interviewed and will find out early next week if he has got the job.

Lillis' experience of working in the Premier League with Derby County and his innovative coaching ideas have proved attractive to players and earnt him respect.

Brown will hold further interviews later this week before naming his man next week.

He said: "Mark Lillis is one of the coaches we've looked at. We've done everything in the right way and we've talked to Morecambe at boardroom level.

"It's an interesting position for someone to come in as a development coach."

McIlroy was focussing on his search for new players this week with the Shrimps boss identifying the need for 'two or three' new players before the August 9 kick-off.

One target is Accrington's Ian Craney, although Stanley have so far rejected any approaches for their player.

McIlroy said: "I need another two or three players. A lot of players left last year and I have brought a few in but we have just really filled in for people from last year.

"The directors are working very hard for me and we will be working right up to kick-off."

The Shrimps start their friendlies with trips to Barrow on Tuesday and Burscough on Wednesday with the latter likely to be a fringe squad.