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

Saturday, 26 July 2025 07:24

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Jason Whittingham of Bond Group Investments, owners of Morecambe FC

Morecambe FC faces a crunch meeting over its future after the National League said "further sanctions" could be brought against the club.

The Shrimps are due to begin their first season in the National League on Saturday August 9, after being relegated back to non-league football at the end of last season.

But amid the ongoing financial crisis at the club, the National League said on Friday they "continue to have serious concerns surrounding Morecambe Football Club and its compliance with National League rules".

"The National League met with (Morecambe owner) Jason Whittingham earlier this week where discussions regarding the club's ability to meet its financial obligations for the 2025/2026 season took place," they said in a statement.

"The National League’s Club Compliance and Licensing Committee wrote to Mr Whittingham on Thursday 24 July 2025 to outline terms that must be met by 12 noon on Monday 28 July 2025.

"The National League’s Club Compliance and Licensing Committee will reconvene on the afternoon of Monday 28 July 2025 to discuss the matter again and discuss possible further sanctions."

This announcement came two days after a group of Morecambe FC shareholders threatened Mr Whittingham and his company Bond Group Investments with High Court action unless he completed a sale of the club within 48 hours.

There has been no further announcement on this as we go to press.

There are fears, among Morecambe fans, that the National League may decide to expel Morecambe from the league.

In an interview with Beyond Radio on July 18, Graham Howse, former club co-chairman, said that the club needed - that day - to provide proof to the National League that they would be financially sustainable for the next 12 months.

Mr Howse also said that Morecambe FC staff wages - which were not paid in full in June - are due again on July 28.

"There are a lot of people who are keen to see this nightmare come to an end but there's one person in control of that situation and we just wish he'd do the right thing now and sell the club to a reasonable buyer who've got the funds to keep the football club going," he said.

Rod Taylor, his fellow former co-chairman, said in the same interview: "The worst case scenario is we haven't got a football club. It doesn't exist in its current form."

The Shrimps are due to play AFC Fylde today (July 26) in an away pre-season friendly, followed by a match at Lancaster City on Tuesday.

Morecambe FC has been up for sale since September 2022 and the process has dragged on while the Shrimps have twice been relegated in that time from a high point of League One.

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, only a third of the June wages being paid to staff, and significant bills being overdue.

Mr Whittingham announced on July 18 that a consortium negotiating to buy the club was headed by Jonny Cato, and said "sales agreements will be completed later today" with an announcement to follow later that day. But Mr Whittingham has not commented publicly since then.

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.

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.

TIMELINE of events from September 2022 to December 2024.

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