Morecambe FC crisis: Devastated Shrimps fan withdraws sponsorship until club is sold

A local businessman who has stopped sponsoring Morecambe Football Club until it is sold says he is devastated to have to make that decision.

Tim Barbary of Bay Camera and Communications said he felt the owners were "playing games with people's lives" - as the crisis enveloping Morecambe Football Club continues.

"The only thing I can do is stop sponsoring the club whilst the owner is in place," said Mr Barbary, a long-time supporter and regular at home games.

"Until there is some financial stability to the club, I'm not prepared to put any more money into the football club.

"It's our community club. The people who work there are all friends of ours. I'm absolutely devastated to that I've had to take the course of action that I've done, but it's something I feel is important. I'm in shock at what's going on."

LISTEN to Tim Barbary speaking to Beyond Radio on Friday

The security camera firm announced on Thursday that they had "made the decision to stop all sponsorship and support of Morecambe Football Club with immediate effect".

"Bay Camera and Communications have been a proud sponsor and supplier of Morecambe FC since we were incorporated in 2009," said the statement.

"Over the last 16 years we have sponsored the bar behind the home end, board sponsorships, numerous games, ball sponsorship, the giant flag as well as sponsorship money that is held on account.

"For a small company this has come at a big cost which we have been happy to do so.

"With the current dealings and shenanigans of the ownership, the non-payment of our good friends the staff of Morecambe FC, as well as the sacking of the board of directors, our managing director Tim Barbary has made the decision to stop all sponsorship and support of Morecambe Football Club with immediate effect.

"We will not be renewing any maintenance contracts or providing any sponsorship until the club is sold.

"We will also not sign the ground safety certificate which we have done every year, this means they will not be allowed to have members of the public in the stadium."

Mr Barbary told Beyond Radio on Friday: "I am absolutely devastated at what's going on at Morecambe Football Club. The shenanigans of the last week have just magnified the situation that's been going on for two years."

Beyond Radio has contacted Morecambe FC for comment.

This comes days after Jason Whittingham (below) of club owners Bond Group Investments, said he would sack the board - a hugely unpopular move with Shrimps fans - over their plan to put Morecambe FC into administration.

The directors - led by co-chairmen Rod Taylor and Graham Howse - then resigned.

This has left the club without directors. For most companies, having at least one director is a legal necessity.

Monthly wages for staff and players at Morecambe FC are now a week overdue, with only around a third of the amount paid.

Meanwhile Mr Whittingham said on Thursday that he still intends to sell the club.

Prospective buyers Panjab Warriors said last week that "Bond Group, through their representatives, has "adopted an uncooperative stance" and this was "now obstructing the completion of the sale".

The plight of the Shrimps has been raised in Parliament by Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale.

The Shrimps Trust supporters group, who have been in contact with all parties involved in the sale process, released an update on Thursday which said: "We appreciate this is a difficult time for anyone associated with Morecambe FC.

"We have spoken to the National League. Their position is the most desirable outcome is that Bond Group sell to Panjab Warriors as soon as possible and will be supporting MFC on that basis.

"The trust are meeting with the National League, the EFL (English Football League), Lizzi Collinge and (hopefully) a cabinet member (on Friday) at 4.30pm.

"We hope a joint conversation will help us all focus on where is best to apply pressure and what regulations we are working under at present.

"Thank you to Lizzi Collinge and Lisa Nandy (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport) for covering our plight.

"Thank you to Panjab Warriors for their continued communication. They remain of the position that they want to purchase the club from Bond Group."

The statement said that Panjab Warriors and Bond Group were due to meet on Thursday.

"Jason Whittingham did speak to us (on Thursday morning) to advise that he is confident he will sell the club before the weekend," it continued.

"We have reported the fact that there are no company directors to Companies House and await response."

The Shrimps Trust also said they had reported recently-filed Bond Group Investments accounts to Companies House, calling them "dubious".

Beyond Radio has contacted Companies House for comment.

"We understand Jason is attempting to add himself to the company as a director, however under FA guidance that form has to be signed by a current director, which is of course problematic, as there are no current directors," continued the Shrimps Trust statement.

Below, Tarnia Elsworth, chair of the Shrimps Trust

"We will keep abreast of this situation.

"We remain of the position that Bond Group will not be able to find the funds needed to keep the club afloat (by our best estimate £700,000 without the Charles Street loan which is £630,000).

"We maintain the position that his only way out is to sell to Panjab Warriors immediately.

"We have had several offers of minority shareholders offering to gift their shares to us. Thank you. We appreciate it. We will review this position and come back to everyone when we have decided next steps. Without there being a company secretary in place, we don't think changes are possible at present.

"We held an initial conversation (on Thursday) with a licensed insolvency practitioner to explore the possible routes for placing Morecambe Football Club Limited into administration.

"At present there are no directors in place, which means the club cannot initiate the administration process itself. This route is no longer considered viable, as we understand Jason Whittingham is likely to continue trying to appoint himself as a director. If successful, his appointment would effectively block any chance of the club voluntarily entering administration via its officers.

"This leaves two possible alternatives:

"Secured creditor route: A secured creditor with a qualifying floating charge can appoint an administrator by giving at least five business days' written notice to the company, then filing a notice with the court. To our knowledge, the only secured creditor with a floating charge is Charles Street Commercial Investments Limited (a loans company). 

"Unsecured creditor route: A less direct and more time-consuming option is for an unsecured creditor (such as an unpaid supplier or employee) to apply to the court for an administration order. This requires showing the company is insolvent and that administration would benefit creditors overall."

The Trust said they had a follow-up meeting with the insolvency practitioner today and encouraged creditors with "significant unpaid amounts" to contact them.

"We will continue fighting for our beloved club," they said.

Meanwhile Fair Game, a band of clubs campaigning to improve football governance, has commented on the Morecambe FC crisis.

"The situation at Morecambe FC is yet another stark reminder of the urgent need for proper governance and accountability in our national game," said Niall Couper, CEO of Fair Game.

"The behaviour of Jason Whittingham has left loyal staff, players, and supporters in limbo.

"Football clubs are vital community assets, not playthings for distant owners with no regard for the people they affect.

"We urgently need reform to prevent this from happening again.

"Fair Game continues to call for the introduction of a strong and independent football regulator to ensure transparency, integrity, and long-term sustainability for our National Game."

Below, fans protesting outside the club on Monday.

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Morecambe FC owners say sale of club will complete on Monday - Beyond Radio

MORECAMBE FC CRISIS: TIMELINE OF EVENTS SO FAR

Friday June 27: The Morecambe FC board of directors reveal that the planned sale of the club to Panjab Warriors is on the brink of collapse, just weeks after the prospective new owners gained clearance from the English Football League (EFL) to proceed with a takeover. The board said owners Bond Group Investments were "considering reneging on the deal". Players and staff at the club were due to be paid their monthly salaries, but hadn't received the money from the owners.

Tuesday July 1: The board gives Bond Group an ultimatum, sell to Panjab Warriors or the club faces being put into administration. By this point, staff have been paid around a third of their wages.

Wednesday July 2: Jason Whittingham denies "stalling" over the deal, says he still intends to sell but that "any transfer of shares (has to be) done in a way that holds no recourse for either the club or Bond Group". He says he intends to "resolve the matter of staff salaries" and wants to "avoid administration at all costs". As such, he says he has begun the process of dismissing the board. All five board members - co-chairmen Rod Taylor and Graham Howse, and James Wakefield, Charles Appleyard and Mick Horton - are terminated as directors at Companies House, although minutes of a Shrimps Trust meeting reveals all five had resigned before this.

Thursday July 3: Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, says in Parliament that the club is "in crisis". Both she and Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, call on Bond Group to complete the sale. In a further statement, Jason Whittingham says "work continues to complete the sale process and give Morecambe Football Club the fresh start the club and its community deserve".

Read more: 

Morecambe FC owner says "work continues to complete the sale process" - Beyond Radio

‘Crisis point’ - Morecambe FC owner sacks board of directors as administration row rumbles on - Beyond Radio

UPDATED: Administration threat as Morecambe FC owner given sale ultimatum - Beyond Radio

'Where is the money?' Morecambe FC sale on brink of collapse after wages delay - Beyond Radio