Morecambe co-chairman speaks with fans and manager ‘worried’ about future of the club

Morecambe co-chairman Rod Taylor speaks with fans and manager left ‘worried’ about the future of the club amid a possible sale of the Shrimps.

Bond Group Investments announced the sale in September, with Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring to step down from the League One strugglers’ board.

Whittingham and Goldring also own rugby union side Worcester Warriors, who are financially stricken and have been suspended for the rest of the season and will be relegated from the top tier of rugby union.

“Where’s the money going to come from? Will we have new investment?,” said the ex-Plymouth and Bradford manager.

🎥 “You’ve talked about the pressure you’re under because of the ownership uncertainty. Just expand on that”

“When a football club goes up for sale, what is gong to happen? Where’s the money coming from? Is there going to be new investment?#Morecambe boss Derek Adams
#bbcefl

— BBC Sport Lancashire (@BBCLancsSport) October 5, 2022

“I’m worried off the pitch, not on the pitch at this moment in time. We need clarity to help us, but on the pitch we should be doing better as well.

“We’ve had a few injuries and we haven’t got the biggest squad in the world. We’ve got 24 senior players.”

— 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞 𝐅𝐂 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝 🇺🇦 (@MorecambeFCFeed) October 4, 2022

Asked by BBC Radio Lancashire if he was worried about the club’s future, Adams said: “Of course I am. I think that any supporter has to be. If somebody comes in with a very good deal for the owners, they are going to sell.

“Who’s that going to be? Is that in the best interests of Morecambe Football Club? Is it in the best interests of the staff that are here already? There’s a whole host of things to be looked into. It’s not easy selling a football club.”

Morecambe sit bottom of the League One standings, three points adrift of safety after 11 games played.

Before announcing the intention to sell, the club had said that their finances were separate from those of Worcester Warriors, yet the situation at the rugby club has worsened significantly since then.

Part of Worcester Warriors was wound up in the High Court on Wednesday, leading to players and staff having their contracts terminated.

“We’ve obviously got a budget until the end of the season. Beyond that period, we obviously need new owners at some point and everyone must understand that,” Adams added.

“We don’t have any money to spend in the transfer window in January at this moment in time unless we have a cup run. That’s the only investment and extra money that’s going to come into this club at this moment in time.”

Morecambe co-chairman Rod Taylor has come out and said there is currently no concern the club will miss payments to players or staff despite Worcester Warriors’ plight.

“We will work to ensure that commitments are met, that is so important,” Taylor said.

Asked by BBC Radio Lancashire whether there was a concern payments would be missed with the third tier club up for sale and in light of Worcester partly being wound up by the High Court this week, Taylor said: “At this moment in time no, absolutely not. That said, things can change by the day.

“Right now I don’t see that that will be an issue at all.”

🎥 #Morecambe co-chairman Rod Taylor gives an update to @BBCLancsSport over the club being up for sale#uts #bbcefl #bbcfootball

— BBC Sport Lancashire (@BBCLancsSport) October 6, 2022

Shrimps boss Derek Adams said on Thursday that he was worried about the future of the club, with Taylor adding that he was unsure what level of interest has been displayed from potential buyers.

“That’s with the owners. We aren’t totally privy to that,” Taylor said.

“I know there has been some interest. There has been email exchanges this week and that’s why we are keen to meet with Jason over the next couple of days to put a bit more meat on the bones of the discussions and find out where we are.

“The last thing you want is uncertainty. If nothing is said, that feeds rumour. As far as we’re concerned right now, it’s business as usual until we know otherwise and we strive to make sure that is the case.”

Taylor stated Morecambe are currently in a financially “fine” position but with the side’s season looking bleak already with hopes of even surviving the drop declining off the back of this news, they must press on with their plans to improve the club’s fortunes on the pitch regardless of what is going on behind the scenes.

“We could be in a totally different and better situation by the end of December. Derek will have his targets and things he wants to do – we’ve got to work towards that,” he continued.

“There’s no guarantee we can do that but, surely, if we want to retain our League One status, we’ve got to give him as much opportunity and backing as we can – not ignore that because there may be new owners by then.

“Let’s work towards a solution and a plan and work towards whenever that might be. Without that, we’re just treading water.”

As mentioned, the Morecambe co-chairman speaks with fans and manager ‘worried’ about future of the club, this is what is being said on social media…

@Caprani14: Nice one mate 👍 worrying times ahead it seems.. we’ll be sound for rest of the season for a new owner, I think who ever buys will buy if we go down for a cheaper price imo.. at least times on our side in this one

@morecambejack: Great open and honest update from Rod #Shrimps

@JamieSaul89: Excellent again from Rod. Calming

@Shrimps1000: Very very worrying

@cllrdclifford: A really candid interview, even with the little bit that was held back, Derek obviously cares deeply about the long term future of the club, and that alone gives me even more reason to support him and what he’s trying to do. It’s in tough times you find out about yourself.

@robelliott_10: Love the honesty, Hate the situation. Respect to Derek 👍

@stormcloud25: This feels like DA is setting up an exit strategy. Can’t imagine the BoD are chuffed that he’s gone public in talking about issues ‘behind the scenes’ that are affecting his ability to manage. Seems like he’s either teasing them to sack him or he’ll use it as a reason to quit.

@JezChance: Going through the mess we are in the one thing I said is why didn’t anyone speak out, things could off been a lot different or at least had a chance at turning it around, I hope they haven’t ruined another club good luck.

@1313markie: It sounds as if it will go the same way as warriors. It’s Covid’s fault oh plus the players and fans. I wish you all the best and hope you get a better outcome than Worcester.

@LancasterIsHome: Wow! Been busy all day but this is extraordinary. Spoke to Rod 10 days ago and there was no sign of any off the pitch issues, so this must be something that’s happened since Cambridge game. Ownership is with the two owners though and I’d imagine they control bank accounts.It sounds as if it will go the same way as warriors. It’s Covid’s fault oh plus the players and fans. I wish you all the best and hope you get a better outcome than Worcester.

@uglygame: Very hard to read this and, having seen the slow motion collapse of Worcester Warriors, not be very concerned about the future of Morecambe. It’s good that Goldring and Whittingham have said they’re selling, but that guarantees nothing and the EFL needs to be proactive here.

@Seagie85: Members of the board have gone to great lengths to explain that the goings on at Worcester have no impact on Morecambe. They are even on record saying the financial situation at the club is the best it’s been in years and is almost self sufficient. Not sure what Dereks issue is.

@ASFCPlayers: Seems like all is not well at Morecambe Towers.

@jayspray04: This is really worrying. Things can’t stay the same somethings gotta give.

@Jamesphayes1: Quite an alarming set of quotes from the usually emotion-less Adams. All does not seem well off the pitch… #Shrimps

@Corbett1972: This sounds the same at my club Worcester Warriors where they have screwed us over