Morecambe owner Jason Whittingham makes a claim he’s working on a deal’ as Lisa Nandy calls for him to sell up so the club can survive.
The Shrimps faces collapse as owner Jason Whittingham delays a sale to prospective buyers Panjab Warriors, who are ready to pay wages, debts, and a seven-figure sum.
Staff have stopped working due to unpaid wages, players are leaving, and the club is suspended from the league until August 20th, 2025.
The Shrimps Trust and minority shareholders warn of dire consequences, including the club shutting down by Monday if no deal is reached.
Whittingham, who has been seeking a buyer for over 1,000 days, remains vague on reasons for stalling but insists he is working toward a sale.
Local MP Lizzi Collinge urges him to finalise the deal to avoid further damage, highlighting the need for a new football regulator to prevent such crises.
🚨 Crisis-hit Morecambe’s owner Jason Whittingham breaks silence to tell @TheiPaperSport he’s ‘working towards a successful sale’. @LizziCollinge tells me he should just ‘sign the damned papers’.
72 hrs to save a club on the brink 👇 #uts #Morecambefchttps://t.co/AZ7BHOk7rN
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) August 1, 2025
Whittingham said to The i Paper when contacted on Friday: “I have just avoided any formal statements at this time whilst I continue to work toward a successful sale of the club.
“Once concluded I’ll be making my statements on the circumstances and facts around the drawn out sale process.”
The i Paper reached out to Panjab Warriors on Friday but – as yet – have had no response, but said on Thursday they were “ready and have reached out daily to complete the acquisition”.
Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, Lizzi Collinge, told The i Paper: “I’m devastated that this crisis is still dragging on, with the damage being done worsening every day.
“And it’s a crisis that was entirely avoidable. If the current owner had sold the club when the EFL had approved the sale, all this could have been avoided.
“I am urging Jason Whittingham once again to just sign the damn paperwork.
“This state of affairs shows exactly why we need the new football regulator.
“I’m obviously frustrated that this won’t be in place in time to make a difference to the current situation.
“But I know it will stop towns like Morecambe suffering in the future by preventing rogue ownership and strengthening financial governance.”
The situation at Morecambe FC is critical.
Fans, players, staff and the town deserve so much better.
Today I have written to the club’s owner urging them to take immediate action to protect this proud club. pic.twitter.com/AtPSM9Oxlk
— Lisa Nandy MP (@lisanandy) August 1, 2025
Secretary of state for Culture, Media & Sport, Lisa Nandy has written to the Morecambe owner:
Jason Whittingham Bond Group Investments Sent by email
Dear Jason,
01 August 2025
I am writing to you to express my deep concern at the serious and worsening situation at Morecambe Football Club. The uncertainty and misery now facing this proud club, its fans, players, staff and the local community is heartbreaking to see.
As someone who has seen my own club, Wigan Athletic, in financial crisis not once. but twice, I know the agony that the supporters of this century old institution will be going through -watching on and feeling powerless with their beloved club’s destiny in the hands of others.
As you know, we have been working at pace over the past year to put fans back at the heart of the game they love. That is why we passed the Football Governance Act to introduce an Independent Football Regulator. When it is fully operational the Regulator will work to prevent situations like that at Morecambe arising in the future, giving fans somewhere to turn to in times of crisis.
However, we are dealing in the here and now and the Regulator will not be up and running in time to help Morecambe today. It is therefore imperative that you act to help save the club and get round the table to do so. While I appreciate that this is ultimately a decision for you as owner, I implore you to find a solution to the club’s current circumstance as quickly as possible.
I have seen first hand the work of the Shrimps Trust, who have done so much for the club in its time of need as well as the club’s board and the local MP, Lizzi Collinge, who have worked tirelessly to try and save this club during this agonising time.
It is the Government’s firm view that owners need to act as the custodians of their clubs.
It is never too late to do the right thing and with so much at stake for this grand old town, the time for action is now. I call on you to effect a sale to a suitable owner, and give the club a chance of a brighter future.
Urgent plea made in joint statement with Morecambe ‘on the brink’ and days until total collapse
Here’s how fans reacted as the Morecambe owner Jason Whittingham makes a claim he’s working on a deal’ as Lisa Nandy calls for him to sell up so the club can survive…
@left_unheard: Let’s hope he does the right thing. Owners need to understand they don’t own the club. They are custodians for fans and communities. We are seeing such an outpour on social media and hope the fans get what they deserve.
@thefulltoss: I’d love to know what, specifically, he’s waiting for. What, specifically, needs to be done. If someone really went after the specifics line of questioning, he’d be screwed.
@Caprani14: Are we just waiting on a box of pens to be delivered?
@Shrimps1000: Sorry but you’ve had 3 years to sell the club
@cllrdclifford: He’s got us to the edge of the cliff and merely waiting to push us over for kicks. Any press comment he makes are the elaborate ramblings of a bad liar. Whittingham is enjoying seeing fans cling onto hope prior to finishing us off
@stephen26273: Hopefully he does before monday, hope they can be saved
@chris_t_park: Whittingham is a pathological LIAR. Do NOT be taken in by him.
@81knowlesy: It’s about time he came face to face with the fans and told us, if he can’t travel to us then we should travel to him. Thats probably going to help get things sorted.
@HrDesert: So he’s working towards a successful sale… so… pick up the phone? Sign the contract, 10 minutes tops and yet it’s been days.
@Bobby_Brown43: Working a deal that he agreed to on the 6/6/25…..
@dave43law: The situation at Sheffield Wednesday is beginning to look equally dire. Stand closed due to safety – over 9000 seats affected, players tearing up contracts, staff not being paid again, almost inevitable points deduction. They are also true football history
