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

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 20:27

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

A group of Morecambe FC shareholders have issued an ultimatum to the owner - sell the club within 48 hours or face High Court action.

Wright and Lord Solicitors, of Morecambe, said 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.

Their announcement on Wednesday comes amid growing concerns for the very existence of the cash-strapped club, while the sale remains incomplete.

"Wright & Lord Solicitors have obtained a barrister's opinion on the merit of taking a ‘minority shareholder’ action against Bond Group Investments Limited and Mr Jason Whittingham under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006," it said.

"On the strength of that advice, a group of minority shareholders has quickly formed to back the application. '

"The process will effectively be a petition to the High Court seeking an order that independent directors are appointed, the company's affairs are overseen, and seeking an order of the High Court that a sale of Bond Group shares takes place.

"A letter of claim has been sent to Bond Group Investments Limited and Mr Whittingham today setting out the action which we are instructed to commence if the sale is not completed within 48 hours."

As of July 15 2024, date of the most recent confirmation statement with Companies House, Morecambe Football Club.Limited had 972 shareholders.

It is not yet known how many, and which shareholders, have formed the group ready to take legal action.

The High Court of Justice in London, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, are the Senior Courts of England and Wales.

It deals at first instance with all high value and high importance civil law (non-criminal) cases.

Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, said: "Well done to minority shareholders for taking action, I'll back them all the way."

Morecambe FC has been up for sale since September 2022 and the process has dragged on while the Shrimps have twice been relegated, and are set to begin the new season in non-league football.

It seemed a deal would finally be done after sports investment company Panjab Warriors was given clearance, in June, by the English Football League (EFL) to buy the club.

Below, Gurpreet Singh from Panjab Warriors with Rod Taylor and Graham Howse, former co-chairmen of Morecambe.

But after announcing he'd agreed terms to sell the club and saying it would happen on Monday July 7, Mr Whittingham did a last-minute U-turn and announced plans to sell to another buyer.

This came amid a backdrop of mounting frustration from fans, the board of directors resigning twice, June wages not being paid in full to staff and significant bills being overdue.

Meanwhile, Lancaster City FC has announced that tickets are on sale for their pre-season match with Morecambe on Tuesday July 29.

The club said the game has been designated an all-ticket fixture, and it had been agreed with Lancashire Police that Morecambe fans will receive 300 tickets, with an initial 350 for Lancaster supporters. Tickets are on sale until 6pm on July 28.

Morecambe are next due to play this Saturday, in an away pre-season friendly against AFC Fylde. The league season will start on August 9.

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.

Former co-chairmen Graham Howse and Rod Taylor

Thursday July 3: Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale (below), 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.

Below, fans outside Morecambe FC on Friday.

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.

TIMELINE of events from September 2022 to December 2024.

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