Morecambe cease all football operations as owner urged to complete sale
Morecambe were suspended from the National League on Monday after a deadline passed for Jason Whittingham of Bond Group Investments to outline how the club would meet its financial obligations for the 2025-26 season. Whittingham had claimed in a statement released the previous day to be working 'with the consortium led by Jonny Cato' on a deal to acquire the majority shareholding in Morecambe. He also claimed Bond Group had been unable to contact Panjab Warriors, the London-based investment company who received clearance from the EFL to purchase Morecambe in June.
Panjab Warriors have since declared they are willing to proceed with a takeover with immediate effect. But in a further demonstration of the mounting crisis at Morecambe, who were relegated from the Football League after 18 years last season, it was revealed on Wednesday that all first-team operations have come to a halt.
A joint statement issued by Panjab Warriors, the Shrimps Trust, minority shareholders and the Morecambe and Lunesdale MP, Lizzi Collinge, said: 'As each day passes, the debts of the club are mounting, with wages now outstanding at over £316,000, and further significant debts that need to be paid to ensure survival of the club, which Panjab Warriors have already committed to pay within hours of completion with Bond Group.
'In further developments today, the first team have had to stop all football operations as the required insurance which was in place has now lapsed as payment has not been made. As a result of this escalating situation, more first-team players have left the club with further players set to leave by the end of this week.'
The statement added: 'We implore Bond Group to complete the sale of the club immediately so that this anguish can be ended and the club can look to a brighter future under Panjab Warriors.'
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