Morecambe owner sacks clubs’ Board of Directors, and talks staff wages, club sale, administration

Morecambe owner Jason Whittingham and Bond Group sacks the clubs’ Board of Directors, and talks staff wages, club sale, administration.

Morecambe’s board put out statements on the 1st of July, saying that the club would be going into administration because the current owner had ‘stalled’ on selling the club and there were no funds to pay the staff.

The owner says he is not stalling and stated intention to sack the board, also confirming that staff wages and the sale of the club have not gone through.

Morecambe owner Jason Whittingham has issued a statement this morning to confirm that he has sacked the clubs’ Board of Directors.

He has also confirmed that staff wages and the sale of the club have not gone through.#uts I #bbcfootball I #bbcsport pic.twitter.com/5fDFOHigI6

— BBC Sport Lancashire (@BBCLancsSport) July 2, 2025

Jason Whittingham, the unreliable and untrusted owner of Morecambe FC, is now attempting to remove the board of directors. Appalling behaviour from the man who liquidated Worcester Warriors rugby club. Leopards don’t change their spots https://t.co/8hbQ2inE34

— Kieran Maguire (@KieranMaguire) July 2, 2025

STATEMENT:

Public Statement on behalf of Bond Group Investments & Jason Whittingham.

There is no doubt that the Club is in a precarious position and is at a crisis point. We also appreciate the stress this is causing for all connected with Morecambe FC.

As majority shareholder we are making every effort to resolve any issues that have arisen and are working to protect the best interests of the Club.

Bond Group Investments has started the process to dismiss the Board of Directors with immediate effect in order that we can take control over the situation giving us the required additional time to ensure that the Club has the best chance to avoid Administration.

We hope the The Board of Directors put the interest of the club before any personal grievances and during this delicate time of negotiation to save the club, refrain from their propensity of issuing negative statements.

The notion that Bond Group Investments is stalling is not true. Bond Group Investments need to ensure that any transfer of shares, in a sale, is done in a way that holds no recourse for either the Club or Bond Group. The safety of the Club’s future is paramount.

Our focus today is to work to find solutions to resolve the matter of staff salary and the Sale of the Club to avoid Administration at all costs.

The staff, players and management team at the club have all been notified as have the National League. We will be communicating with the Supporters Trust.

We are deeply sorry for the distress and uncertainty this is causing. Our next communication will be tomorrow morning to confirm the outcome.

Thank you.

Jason Whittingham,
On behalf of Bond Group Investments

🔴 We’re still waiting for an update from #Morecambe‘s board of directors after they said earlier they will begin the process of putting the club into administration if its owner does not sell the Shrimps.@joelshooter47 from the @shrimpstrust and BBC Radio Lancashire’s… pic.twitter.com/JyFAjKus0U

— BBC Sport Lancashire (@BBCLancsSport) July 1, 2025

On Tuesday (1st July) the first statement by the board of directors was issued: “The Board of Directors of Morecambe Football Club wish to make the following statement.

“Following multiple meetings with Bond Group throughout the weekend and yesterday, in several of which Jason Whittingham stated once again his desire and intention to sell his shares in the Club to Panjab Warriors, in line with the sale agreement reached and announced weeks ago, the Board of Directors met at 9am this morning to discuss the fact that, despite all parties apart from Bond Group doing everything possible to complete the sale yesterday, as of last night Jason Whittingham was again refusing to sell his shares in the club to Panjab Warriors.

“Because Bond Group do not have the required funds to meet the club’s full payroll commitment, despite being entirely responsible for paying wages until a sale completes and aware of that responsibility and the requirement, this means that wages cannot be paid until the sale completes.

“Panjab Warriors do have the funds available to pay all wages, and are ready to transfer these immediately, but they are not able to do so unless the sale completes and they are the owners.

“As a result, we have had no choice but to issue an ultimatum to Jason Whittingham at 9:52am this morning, Tuesday 1st July 2025, that unless Bond Group’s shares are sold to Panjab Warriors by 4pm today, the Board of Directors will be left with no option but to begin the process of putting the Club into administration.

“We have been crystal clear in spelling out what this might mean for all staff, for the Club, and for the whole community that is built around it, and we have left Jason Whittingham in no doubt as to the fact that his unwillingness to complete a transaction that he has repeatedly agreed to is the sole reason we are in this position.

“As a Board of Directors we will continue to do absolutely everything that we can to apply as much pressure as possible to make the sale happen before today’s 4pm deadline. It is now down to Jason Whittingham and Bond Group to do the right thing, and not risk the destruction of people’s livelihoods, the truly wonderful football club that we love, the community that it sits at the heart of, and 105 years of proud history.”

At just after 4pm: “The Board of Directors of Morecambe Football Club wish to make the following update regarding this afternoon’s statement.

“New information has come to light, which is currently being investigated, therefore the deadline that was set for 16:00, has now been extended to 18:00.

“We have been working diligently all day and are in communication with the current owner, Jason Whittingham and Panjab Warriors.

“We will provide an update as soon as we possibly can.

“Rod Taylor, On behalf of the Board of Directors.”

At around 8:30pm: “The Board of Directors of Morecambe Football Club wish to share the following update regarding today’s statements.

“Following further discussions with Jason Whittingham this afternoon and evening, it is apparent to the Board of Directors that he is, for some reason, stalling for time and attempting to drag out what is a truly horrible situation and decision for as long as possible.

“We must emphasise that this is without providing the Board with any substantive or convincing reasons for us to responsibly delay triggering the administration process.

“The Board of Directors have, this evening, informed Jason that administrators will be called, at the earliest opportunity, tomorrow morning.

“Jason still has the chance to do the right thing, agree to sell his shares tomorrow morning, but that opportunity expires once and for all after that.

“Rod Taylor, On behalf of the Board of Directors”

This is how fans reacted as the Morecambe owner sacks the clubs’ Board of Directors, and talks staff wages, club sale, and administration…

@GabSutton: Sod off you absolute rotters. That Board of Directors did more for this precious football club last night than you have in 7 years. How dare you try to pin the blame on them!

@TylerBirtles: An “Owner” deemed as “Fit and Proper” now destroying a football club. What a shambles. Getting rid of a board of directors that have more love and integrity for Morecambe FC than you do in your little finger. You should be ashamed.

@keithelliott94: Looks like it’s all over, it’ll be interesting to see how his going to resolve it, I’d be amazed if he does. No mention of the new prospective buyers either despite them apparently having put millions in to purchase the club

@tomhwilliams23: Really hope this situation is resolved soon. How this is still going on is beyond me. Complete the sale, for the sake of the club and its fans

@Stuart_James10: This is simply outrageous behaviour. @FA need to step in here.

@SSE_LTFC: The “Fit and Proper person” test for owning a football club clearly isn’t fit for purpose in it’s own right.

@OffTheLineBlog: Is Jason Whittingham for real? How can a man be so out of touch with reality? To slag the board of directors off in the way he has, what bloody cheek if you ask me! There’s only person that is trying to stop Morecambe going forward + it isn’t the BoD! Feel for Morecambe.

@brethertonjamie: You scumbag. You absolute fucking scumbag.

@jamesdickson906: Wow! I’ve no words! You horrible piece of fucking shit! Well done to the happy clappers! Jason out wants Jason out! Bullshit! We should of been a lot more robust along time ago!

@Jimbokav1971: The @FA need to be able to step in and take control in a situation like this. If they are going to let people like this own football clubs, then they also need to be responsible for cleaning up the mess left behind. #EFL #NationalLeague ⚽️

@swaz_15: The board gave him the chance to do this by delaying Administration from 4pm yesterday. Give this man an inch and he’ll take a mile

@jim_bell17: 4th club statement in 24 hours and not a peep from any major media outlet. This isn’t normal. This isn’t how community assets should be managed. We need a regulator in football NOW. Also Jason Whittingham stinks of cat piss

@harryfretwell: What an absolute parasite. Stripping the club and undermining the people that care that they will even have a club tomorrow. Disgusting man.

@TheComShrimp: Whittingham is absolute disgrace to the human race and a stain on society. @EFL this is on you. How could you let this man buy a football club? We need an independent regulator immediately to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.