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Former Carlisle United promotion winner set to leave crisis club

Joel Senior helped Carlisle to promotion before being released and joining Morecambe <i>(Image: Richard Parkes)</i>
Joel Senior helped Carlisle to promotion before being released and joining Morecambe (Image: Richard Parkes)

Former Carlisle United full-back Joel Senior looks set to leave crisis club Morecambe after rejecting a new deal.

The Shrimps have confirmed that Senior turned down an offer of extended terms during the 2023/24 campaign.

It means the 24-year-old is poised to move on after signing a one-year deal at Morecambe last summer, following his release from the Blues.

He is one of four players to turn down a new deal at Morecambe, who have also released 12 players after their League Two season.

The Mazuma Stadium club are facing off-field troubles with serious concerns over their ownership.

The club's board took the unusual step of writing an open letter to owners Bond Group urging them to sell the club and avoid "catastrophic" consequences for the Shrimps.

News and Star: Senior was voted fans' and players' player of the season at Morecambe
News and Star: Senior was voted fans' and players' player of the season at Morecambe

Senior was voted fans' and players' player of the season at Morecambe (Image: Mark Fletcher / MI News)

In a message to owner Jason Whittingham after a meeting, the board said: "Sadly, your future funding assurances have now failed to come to fruition so often that, in the absence of substantial funds from Bond Group landing in the Morecambe Football Club account, they come across as meaningless, and we must take them as such in order to be responsible.

"As for the Middle East-based potential buyer you first told us was interested in buying the club approximately a year ago, you have provided no tangible evidence or introduction during this time to enable us to consider them serious or credible.

"You have one apparently serious offer on the table from a US-based potential buyer which, based on what we know, is the most credible which has been made since you placed the club up for sale over 20 months ago.

"Please accept this second offer now, so that there is a chance that a sale might be completed, and a catastrophic outcome be avoided."

Senior made 50 appearances for Morecambe last season and was voted fans' and players' player of the season.

That followed his spell with United which saw the ex-Burnley and Altrincham man play 21 times in an 18-month spell which saw Senior sidelined for a long period with an ACL injury.

He returned to fitness in the 2022/23 campaign and played in Carlisle's successful play-off campaign including the final against Stockport County at Wembley, where Senior was involved in the attack that led to Omari Patrick's memorable equaliser.