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

Monday, 7 July 2025 17:33

By Dave Salmon @dpsalmon

The board of directors at Morecambe Football Club have resigned for a second time after a deal to takeover the Shrimps wasn't completed as expected today.

In the latest statement from Jason Whittingham, he said despite efforts to compete a transaction to Panjab Warriors, extra time is needed for ‘some final items to be signed off.’

On Friday, the club announced that the long-awaited sale of Morecambe FC would be completed today (Monday, July 7), after they had "agreed final terms for the transfer of ownership and sale of Morecambe Football Club Limited, subject to contract" with Panjab Warriors Sports Ltd.

But now, a new statement says: ‘’[Owners] Bond Group Investments Ltd remains committed to the sale of its majority shareholding in Morecambe Football Club. In doing so we also remain committed to ensuring that staff are paid as soon as possible and the club avoids administration.

‘’We made significant progress over the past few days, getting legal agreements drawn up and agreed in principle, subject to signing, with various stakeholders involved in the sale.

‘’Despite the expectation to complete today, unfortunately there are some final items to get signed off and it’s likely we will need tomorrow to complete the sale.’’

Below: Morecambe FC owner, Jason Whittingham

The latest update is another blow to all staff and players at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, who are still awaiting payment of their full wages for June. To date, just one third of monies due have been received by employees, who should have been paid on June 27.

In response to the deal to sell the club still not being completed, the board of directors - Rod Taylor, Graham Howse, James Wakefield, Charlie Appleyard and Mick Horton - resigned en masse for the second time in less than a week.

All five originally left the board last Wednesday, after being threatened with removal by Mr Whittingham following an ultimatum that they would force the club into administration if a deal wasn't done by Tuesday, July 1.

They all returned to the board on Friday (July 4), in an effort to help facilitate the final stages of the Panjab Warriors takeover.

Below: Mick Horton, Graham Howse, Rod Taylor, Charlie Appleyard and James Wakefield

A statement from James Wakefield said: ‘’Rod, Graham, Charlie, Mick and I have just met and agreed that we must remove ourselves as directors of Morecambe FC this evening, given that we stated publicly on Tuesday 1 July 2025 that unless a sale completed that day, administration was regrettably the only responsible option left to us.

‘’We have also agreed with the owner that we will be on standby to rejoin the club as directors tomorrow (Tuesday July 8), to facilitate the sale should it be ready to complete, subject to being invited by the owner to do so.’’

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

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

Morecambe FC crisis: Devastated Shrimps fan withdraws sponsorship until club is sold

Morecambe FC owner says "work continues to complete the sale process"

‘Crisis point’ - Morecambe FC owner sacks board of directors as administration row rumbles on

Administration threat as Morecambe FC owner given sale ultimatum

'Where is the money?' Morecambe FC sale on brink of collapse after wages delay

The club has been up for sale since September 2022. Bond Group have owned Morecambe FC since 2018.