Morecambe FC crisis: Football club to "officially shut" on Monday, say would-be owners

Thursday, 31 July 2025 17:26

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Shareholders of Morecambe FC and its prospective buyers say the crisis-hit club will "officially shut" on Monday unless a takeover is completed.

Panjab Warriors and the Morecambe FC Minority Shareholders Action Group said "senior staff have taken the heartbreaking decision to stop working after months of holding the club together under impossible circumstances".

Their statement on Thursday said "£0 in the bank and no cash on site means operations cannot continue".

They also said the club's academy for young footballers is due to shut down on Friday.

Beyond Radio has contacted sources inside the club to verify the above. We have had no official response as we went to press.

The joint statement from Panjab Warriors and the action group also made a renewed call to Jason Whittingham, of club owners Bond Group Investments, to complete a deal to sell Morecambe FC and for him to "stop the suffering".

"It is with deep sadness and urgency that we issue this joint statement on the critical situation facing Morecambe Football Club," it said.

"Without immediate action, our historic 105-year-old club faces total collapse within days.

"The club’s academy will cease operations by the end of this week.

"No insurance is in place. Players and staff can no longer afford the basic costs of travel. Parents and player agents are requesting releases to leave the club immediately.

"Losing our academy will be devastating for local children and aspiring footballers. This is a hammer blow to the community.

"As of Monday, 4th August, the club is officially shut.

"£0 in the bank and no cash on site means operations cannot continue.

"Senior staff have taken the heartbreaking decision to stop working after months of holding the club together under impossible circumstances.

“A proud 105-year-old institution is now completely stalled."

The statement also made "an urgent joint appeal to all connected parties, most notably (property lender) Charles Street Finance Ltd, to act constructively and exhaust every possible option to keep this club alive".

“Any assistance now would be remembered forever by the people of Morecambe," the statement went on.

"Without an agreement today, the club will rapidly disintegrate.

"Staff and players are leaving—soon there will be nothing left to sell.

"Jason Whittingham, your legacy is in your hands.

“You will be remembered in Morecambe not for your intentions, but for the outcome of today. Do the right thing. Stop the suffering.

"Panjab Warriors are ready and have reached out daily to complete this acquisition.

"The fans, the minority shareholders, the community, and your own stakeholders all want the same thing: for this club to survive.

"Sign the deal. Save the club. Today.

"We implore Jason to sign the deal immediately so that this proud club can be saved and its 105-year legacy preserved."

On Monday it was announced that Morecambe FC was suspended from the National League until August 20.

The league said it had "ongoing concerns surrounding Morecambe Football Club and its compliance with National League rules" and had conducted "discussions regarding the club's ability to meet its financial obligations for the 2025/2026 season".

Then on Wednesday, a joint statement from Panjab Warriors, minority shareholders, the Shrimps Trust and Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, said "the first team have had to stop all football operations as the required insurance which was in place has now lapsed as payment has not been made".

The club was relegated from League 2 at the end of last season.

Morecambe FC has been owned since 2018 by Bond Group Investments, who put the club up for sale in September 2022.

As we went to press, the sale still had not been completed, and staff had not been paid wages for July, having received only a third of their June salaries.

Meanwhile on Thursday, Tarnia Elsworth, chair of the Shrimps Trust supporters' group, announced she would step down from the role.

This was made official at the trust's Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Strathmore Hotel on Thursday evening.

Ms Elsworth received a standing ovation from Shrimps fans in thanks for her work over the past year, in what the trust described as "undoubtedly the most challenging period in the history of Morecambe FC".

She said it had been "a pleasure to represent the Shrimps Trust this year" and it was "time for me and my family to take a more supporting role, so that I can focus on my other responsibilities".

Below, the Shrimps Trust AGM on Thursday. Photo credit: Shrimps Trust

Ms Elsworth has also stepped down from the board of trustees at the Shrimps Trust.

New trustees elected at last night's meeting included James Wakefield, former director of Morecambe FC.

The other trustees are James Atkinson, James Main, Joel Shooter, Jack Steer, Alistair Stewart, Ben Turner, Ben Cassar, Pat Stoyles, Joe Kennedy and Paul Crabtree. A new chair will be elected soon.

It was announced at the meeting that the trust had a record-breaking year for membership, which now stood at 796 members.

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 (below) - 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". Sponsors Bay Camera and Communications Ltd say they will stop sponsoring the club until it is sold.

Friday July 4: Mr Whittingham says the long-awaited sale will complete on Monday July 7 and that final terms have been agreed with Panjab Warriors. The board of directors, he said, have been invited back to "support the final stages of the sale process". The five directors are then reappointed. The Shrimps Trust said they had spoken to Kuljeet Singh Momi of Panjab Warriors, who confirmed an agreement had been reached. But, said the trust: "If a deal is indeed agreed, we do not understand why it needs the weekend to complete."

Monday July 7: Mr Whittingham says the sale will not complete on Monday as extra time is needed for "final items" to be signed off and "it’s likely we will need tomorrow to complete the sale.’’ In response, the board of directors resign again. Mr Whittingham also says there has been "a campaign of abuse" against him and his family on social media and this has "put off at least two potential buyers" of the football club.

Tuesday July 8: Panjab Warriors say everything is ready for them to take charge and accuse Mr Whittingham of holding the club hostage. As the new Football Governance Bill passes through the Commons, Lizzi Collinge calls on the Morecambe FC owner to "sign the damn paperwork". Morecambe beat Longridge 2-1 in their first pre-season friendly.

Wednesday July 9: Jason Whittingham says a new buyer has come forward and agreements will be signed "this evening". The Shrimps Trust respond by saying that the National League had not been made aware of the alternate buyer.

Thursday July 10: Panjab Warriors say they are "currently seeking legal advice and will begin exploring all legal avenues, including action for misrepresentation and recovery of funds". Meanwhile, events and functions at the football club are having to be cancelled, including parties for primary school leavers, due to the ongoing issues.

Friday July 11: Tarnia Elsworth of the Shrimps Trust said the club was "effectively grinding to a halt". The club is, by now, under a transfer embargo preventing them from signing new players.

Saturday July 12: Panjab Warriors has raised formal complaints with the National League. They have called for an investigation - alleging breaches of the Owners' and Directors' Test (OADT) which owners have to pass to show they are fit and proper to own a football club.

Monday July 14 In an interview with 'The Ugly Game' website, Rod Taylor, former co-chairman of Morecambe, says the club has "only days left, literally days.”

Tuesday July 15: Fans club together to raise money for a treat for the playing staff, who still have not been paid in full. Morecambe defeat Hyde United 5-2 in a pre-season friendly.

Wednesday July 16: Morecambe announce their upcoming pre-season fixture against Barrow AFC on Tuesday July 22 at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium will now be played behind closed doors.

Thursday July 17: The Shrimps Trust reveal the name of a person they say that two different sources have told them is in talks over the sale. Mr Whittingham released a statement saying "recent guesses" on the identity of a prospective new buyer of the club are "not accurate".

Friday July 18: Beyond Radio and national media visit the club to speak to former directors and fans about the crisis. Mr Whittingham releases a statement saying the consortium buying Bond Group's major shareholding in Morecambe FC is "led by Mr Jonny Cato" and that "sales agreements will be completed today" with a "further announcement to follow today". No further announcement is made.

Saturday July 19: Morecambe draw 1-1 away at Marine in a pre season friendly. Panjab Warriors "express deep concern and strongly contest yesterday’s public announcement by Mr Jason Whittingham regarding a proposed sale of Morecambe Football Club to a consortium including named individual Mr Jonny Cato".

Sunday July 20: Morecambe FC announces its pre-season friendly with Barrow, scheduled for Tuesday July 22, has been cancelled.

Monday July 21: The Shrimps Trust supporters group say that "we understand that the (Barrow) fixture on Tuesday has been cancelled as the players as a group have decided not to play until the current ownership situation is resolved" and "we support their decision".

Tuesday July 22: BBC Radio Lancashire report that they've spoken to Derek Adams, Morecambe FC manager, who says "the players are not on strike and they all trained today at the training ground. Their professionalism has been magnificent during this difficult time. We all want this situation to be resolved and the best outcome for Morecambe Football Club." Morecambe announces their game with AFC Fylde on Saturday will go ahead.

Wednesday July 23: A group of Morecambe FC shareholders issue an ultimatum to the owner - sell the club within 48 hours or face High Court action. Wright and Lord Solicitors, of Morecambe, say a 'minority shareholder' action could be taken against Bond Group Investments and Jason Whittingham in an effort to force the long-awaited sale of the Shrimps.

Friday July 25: The National League gives Mr Whittingham until noon on Monday to meet terms they'd outlined to him in writing. They are due to meet on Monday afternoon to "discuss possible further sanctions".

Saturday July 26: Morecambe draw 0-0 away at AFC Fylde in a pre-season friendly.

Sunday July 27: Jason Whittingham releases a public statement saying: "Bond Group Investments has continued to work with the consortium led by Jonny Cato in their efforts to acquire the majority shareholding in Morecambe Football Club. Whilst talks are ongoing, it is clear that continual negative press statements impacting on the club, have given them cause for concern and pause. Alongside this, Bond Group had agreed to an offer, made by a representative of, and on behalf of, the Panjab Warriors, and are ready to sell on that basis. Despite numerous attempts over the past week to contact Panjab Warriors regarding their offer, and our willingness to complete, we have not heard from them. We now urge the Panjab Warriors to make contact in an effort to complete on the sale." Beyond Radio has approached Panjab Warriors for comment.

Monday July 28: The planned High Court action by a group of Morecambe FC minority shareholders, hoping to force a sale of the club, has stalled. Wright and Lord Solicitors said: "Over the past week, it has proved impossible for anybody involved to directly reach any of the Panjab Warriors representatives. Without the evidential support from Panjab Warriors and their commitment to buy, any court application at this stage is futile."

The National League suspends Morecambe until August 20, affecting their first three league games of the season due to start on August 9, and also removes them from the coming season's National League Cup.

Tuesday July 29: Panjab Warriors, Wright and Lord Solicitors on behalf of a group of minority shareholders, the Shrimps Trust and Lizzi Collinge release a joint statement saying: "Panjab Warriors are now ready, willing and able to proceed with the purchase immediately. The funds required to clear the necessary liabilities would be met forthwith. This would see the payment of all outstanding wages and other immediate liabilities to allow the club to prepare for the season and lift the club’s suspension and embargo from the National League. The National League are aware and ready to sanction the deal and immediately lift the suspension and embargo should the sale proceed."

Morecambe's friendly match with Lancaster City, scheduled to take place that evening, has been cancelled.

Wednesday July 30: It's announced that first team football operations at the club have stopped.

TIMELINE of events from September 2022 to December 2024.

Timeline: How the Morecambe FC sale saga has dragged on for two years - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: First team football operations at club have stopped - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: Lifeline for Shrimps as buyers "ready, willing and able to proceed" - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: Shrimps suspended from National League - reaction - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: Shrimps suspended from National League - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: National League threatens "further sanctions" amid fears for future of club - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC Crisis: High Court ultimatum as shareholders give owner 48 hour deadline to sell - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: Pre-season match "will go ahead" amid dismay over club's future - Beyond Radio

INTERVIEWS: "Anger, frustration, sadness" - Fans unite at Morecambe FC over club crisis - Beyond Radio