Morecambe FC crisis: Owner plays down speculation over identity of prospective buyer of club

Thursday, 17 July 2025 16:34

By Dave Salmon @dpsalmon

The Morecambe FC owner says "recent guesses" on the identity of a prospective new buyer of the club are "not accurate".

Jason Whittingham of Bond Group released a statement after the Shrimps Trust supporters' group named a person they'd been told was in talks over the long-awaited sale of the Shrimps.

This came just over a week after Mr Whittingham said a new buyer was interested in taking over the crisis-hit football club.

‘’We understand from two separate sources that Jamie Alexander Hunter is the person in dialogue with Bond Group in relation to the sale,’’ said a spokesperson from the trust on Thursday.

‘’The trust ask this party for open communication as currently we are all in the dark, and the owner is not providing substantive updates.’’

On Wednesday July 9, Mr Whittingham (below) said: "Bond Group are pleased to announce that agreements will be signed this evening in relation to the sale of Morecambe FC.''

"A last-minute bid came through from a UK buyer after learning about the club’s situation. That buyer has worked over the last 24 hours to turn around a payment to his solicitors for wages to be paid and agreed contracts pending approval of the sale by the National League.

"He has already started preparing documentation for National League to give their approval for the sale and confirmed his financial support for the club this coming season, provided his takeover is approved.

"This buyer will make their own statement shortly to introduce themselves and set out their plans for the club over the coming seasons.

"Further announcements to follow tomorrow."

Eight days have passed since, and there had been no further public communication from Mr Whittingham, until today.

‘’Bond Group are aware that there is much ongoing speculation around the sale of the club,’’ said today's statement.

‘’We can confirm that a take-over deal is near completion with a consortium of individuals headed by people with genuine football experience, to acquire Bond Group’s interest in the club. We can also confirm that despite speculation on the buyers’ identity, nobody from the consortium has yet been named publicly and recent guesses are not accurate.

‘’We are grateful for the speed with which the new buyer has worked with their legal team on concluding their due diligence and negotiating the contracts, given the time pressures the club is facing.

‘’The buyers have funds available to bring payments for the club up to date and we are working to conclude the transaction as quickly as possible.’’

Two thirds of staff and player wages for June are now almost three weeks overdue, from payroll on June 28, while other payments including one to HMRC are also late.

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.

Yesterday, (Wednesday), the Shrimps Trust met with the Football Association (FA) to try to find a way forward.

Their statement continued: ‘’The Shrimps Trust met with members of the FA Football Operations team yesterday and we thank them for the time and consideration they gave to the meeting.

‘’The representatives confirmed that Morecambe FC is currently a key focus for them, as it is for the National League. They made clear that they must operate within their rules and regulations and will act where these allow.

‘’At this stage, the National League is leading on the situation at Morecambe FC and the FA representatives explained the roles of each party.''

‘’We were told that a lack of directors would in general terms not necessarily stop the sale of a club from going through although there would be potential legal implications to consider. The FA generally cannot get involved in the private sale of a club. The trust advised it is actively exploring all possible avenues in relation to any disqualifying factors.

‘’The FA also warned against rumour and speculation, as it can make these situations more difficult. They confirmed that any paperwork or information being received by the National League, or the FA is being dealt with urgently.

‘’If a sale does take place, Morecambe FC will be treated as a priority and the handover handled as quickly as possible.’’

Morecambe FC was put up for sale in September 2022.

Since then, the club has twice been relegated from its highest ever position of League One.

The Shrimps are due to begin their first season back in non-league football, on August 9.

Hounslow-based sports investment company Panjab Warriors were given clearance by the English Football League (EFL) in June, to buy the club.

Mr Whittingham said on July 4 that he had agreed final terms with Panjab Warriors to sell the club to them, after a week of uncertainty when it seemed the deal was on the brink of collapse.

But on July 9, he said another late buyer had come forward and he intended to sell to them instead.

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 (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.

TIMELINE of events from September 2022 to December 2024.

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

Read more about the ongoing crisis at Morecambe FC at these links:

Morecambe FC crisis: Fans rally round to offer support to playing staff - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: "Club effectively grinding to a halt" - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: Panjab Warriors threaten legal action after Shrimps sale U-turn - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: Owner announces last-minute new buyer of club - Beyond Radio

Businesses rally round to help Morecambe FC staff as wages remain unpaid - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC owners-in-waiting say club is "being held hostage" over delayed sale - Beyond Radio

UPDATED: Morecambe FC takeover deal still not done as board resign for second time - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC owner says social media ‘campaign of abuse’ has put off potential buyers of club

Morecambe FC owners say sale of club will complete on Monday