Morecambe directors warn of ‘catastrophic outcome’ if club not sold

Morecambe directors have warned the League Two club faces a “catastrophic outcome” unless the current owners agree to sell. The club was put up for sale in September 2022 by Jason Whittingham of Bond Group but with no deal concluded, the club are in turmoil.

They were deducted three points by the English Football League last season for failing to pay players on time and Whittingham was fined £10,000. He was also given a suspended fine of £20,000, which is due to be activated on 31 May unless he deposits a sum equal to 125% of the monthly wage bill to cover any future delays.

Morecambe, who finished 15th this season, are also manager-less after Ged Brannan left to become No 2 at Accrington Stanley and have five players under contract. The contracts of 16 players have expired – 12 were not offered new terms and four rejected new deals – while five loanees have returned to their parent club. Farrend Rawson, the club captain, was among those who turned down a new contract having previously described the running of the club as “a shambles” and appealing for Bond Group to sell.

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After a meeting between the board and Whittingham on Monday, directors issued a stark warning over Morecambe’s future on the club’s website. Addressed to Whittingham, it 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.”