The current owner of Morecambe FC says ‘sales agreements will be completed today’, after naming the man he says is leading a consortium to take over the Shrimps.
Jason Whittingham of Bond Group said a consortium is trying to purchase his majority shareholding, led by a man called Jonny Cato.
On Thursday Mr Whittingham stated that "recent guesses" on the identity of a prospective new buyer of the club were "not accurate", after official fans’ group the Shrimps Trust named a different person they believed to be in discussions over a deal.
A new statement today says: ‘’An announcement had been planned for this afternoon, but due to false speculation about the buyer’s identity we have received consent to disclose the buyer’s identity.
‘’The consortium buying Bond Group’s interest in the club, subject to National League approval, is led by Mr Jonny Cato with an impressive group being built around him to develop the club over the coming seasons.
‘’Neither Jonny or his team have any connection to [me] or Bond Group of any kind and as before, nobody [else] from the consortium has yet been named publicly. The current false speculation and guesses about the buyer’s identify are not accurate.’’
Mr Whittingham (below)went on to say that payment of June wages would be part of any deal, with all staff and players being due two thirds of their pay since payroll on June 28, three weeks ago.
The statement continued: ‘’Sales agreements will be completed today (Friday 18 July 2025) and will include a generous payment from the buyer to pay staff and players while the National League approval process is completed.
‘’We are grateful for this gesture of goodwill when the club and its stakeholders needed it most.
‘’This sale has progressed at a rapid pace and, once again, we are thankful to the buyer and his legal team for expediting the process to ensure the club’s status in the league was preserved.
‘’The buyers will engage directly with the National League and the fans to introduce themselves and share their exciting plans for the club.’’
Morecambe Football Club Ltd continues to exist in breach of company law, as it has no active directors since the previous board resigned en masse in protest over the delays to completing a sale on July 7.
Earlier this week, the Shrimps Trust met with the Football Association (FA) to try to find a way forward through the ongoing ownership crisis.
The Shrimps are due to begin their first season back in non-league football, on August 9.
Read much more about the ongoing Morecambe FC ownership situation here
Chair of board who will decide how £20m West End funding is spent announced
Council crackdown reveals no breaches of licencing rules in Lancaster venues
Lancaster MP calls for clarity over future of under threat day centre
Marathon fundraiser to support prostate cancer charity after Morecambe businessman's diagnosis
Lancaster service will commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day
Alexei Sayle and Nigel Planer confirmed for Morecambe TV and Film Festival
Morecambe promenade hotel could become apartments
New Maternity Triage and Bereavement Suite to open at Royal Lancaster Infirmary
Lancaster MP joins calls for government to bring in social media ban for under 16s
New Lancaster group aims to support a better way of life on the water
Winter feast will celebrate milestone year for Lancaster district food projects
LISTEN: New lease of life for one of Lancaster's oldest pubs
Management of Lancaster student accommodation moves to new operator
Police release video footage of men wanted in connection with Lancaster attack
£800k funding pot will help Lancaster district residents stay warm and well all year round
Heritage plaque unveiled to celebrate achievement of Lancaster suffragette
LISTEN: Film festival in Morecambe going from strength to strength
Former Morecambe hotel and nightspot is unsold at auction
Family handing over to new couple after special time in charge at historic Lancaster pub
Family pays tribute to much-loved Morecambe man who died after A6 crash
