DISAPPOINTED Morecambe fans were looking to the future this week as they learnt that star striker Justin Jackson was to move to Conference rivals Rushden and Diamonds.

The non-league game's leading goalscorer moved on for an undisclosed fee of over £150,000 -- a record between two conference clubs.

Jackson returned to Christie Park early last season after a grand tour of football's lower divisions which had taken him to Woking, Notts County and, finally, Halifax before Jim Harvey stumped up the cash to bring him back to the club where he made his name.

The £18,000 fee shattered Morecambe's transfer record, but he soon began to repay the debt with a series of fine goals as the Shrimps overcame a mid-season slump to record their highest ever position, third in the conference.

Harvey has already strengthened his squad this summer, with the addition of Steve Walters from Northwich Victoria, Marine's Chris Price and Rushden and Diamond's former Crewe keeper Mark Smith.

Striker John Norman returned to the club from Hednesford towards the end of last season and, while fans would have wanted to see him paired with Jackson, he could form a potent partnership with ex-Burnley striker Phil Eastwood.