A strong statement has been issued by would-be Morecambe owners Panjab Warriors to the current owner Jason Whittingham.
It comes as Jason Whittingham says he remains committed to selling the club to Panjab Warriors, despite delays in finalising the deal, which was expected to conclude on Monday but may require an extra day.
The club’s board of directors, James Wakefield, Rod Taylor, Graham Howse, Mick Horton, and Charlie Appleyard, have resigned, a week after being sacked then reinstated, but agreed to return if needed to complete the sale.
Whittingham assured that staff payments would be made soon and vowed to avoid administration. The delay follows a chaotic week where the board threatened administration if the sale wasn’t completed, and Whittingham briefly attempted to remove them before reinstating them to oversee the sale.
THE TIME IS NOW – COMPLETE THE SALE AND SAVE MORECAMBE FC
Morecambe Football Club stands at a critical crossroads. The next 24 hours will define the future of this club, its people, and its legacy.#FootballFans #saveclub pic.twitter.com/aWFxJQXph3
— Panjabwarriorsofficial (@Panjabwarriors) July 8, 2025
“THE TIME IS NOW – COMPLETE THE SALE AND SAVE MORECAMBE FC
“Morecambe Football Club stands at a critical crossroads. The next 24 hours will define the future of this club, its people, and its legacy.
“From the Panjab Warriors side, everything is ready. Our legal team has confirmed that all documentation has been complete since last week, all conditions have been met, and funds are in place. The sale is seconds away from completion—all that is required is Jason Whittingham’s signature.
“Yet despite reaching this final moment, Morecambe FC is being held hostage. We now suspect the club is being used as leverage in unrelated personal financial matters—a move that threatens its very survival.
“Staff remain unpaid, tension is mounting, and the impact on morale within the club is growing by the hour.
“Critical financial deadlines are being missed. Morecambe FC is now on life support.
“As stated by the Club: Outstanding Payroll – £131,000. This has been overdue since June 28, and it is unimaginable the pain this is causing to everyone at MFC.
“VAT – £45,000. This is due to be paid before Wednesday, July 9 (Today) to HMRC.
“The total of these obligations is £176,000, which must be paid by today at the very latest.
“Failure to do so may result in the club being placed under transfer embargo and at risk of administration.
“Let us be clear: Bond Group no longer has the means or mandate to run this football club.
“Morecambe has been up for sale for over 1,000 days, and only now at the final hurdle do we hear claims of unspecified investors (which were never disclosed to anyone until this final stage) needing to approve the sale.
“Our investigations do not support this narrative.
“It appears to be yet another tactic to stall progress and evade responsibility.
“The Panjab Warriors have been fully approved by the EFL, and all funds—source and sufficiency—have been cleared.
“Over the past 14 months, we have continuously supported the club financially, providing £1.7 million in working capital, in addition to the £3.8 million purchase sum.
“We believe the undisclosed mention of so-called investors at this late stage is misleading and potentially fraudulent.
“We issue this final appeal to Jason Whittingham: Sign the paperwork. Release the club. Do the right thing. We also call upon: The UK Government, The Local MP, The English Football League, The National League to intervene and enforce the completion of this sale.
“This is no longer a private transaction it is a matter of public interest and the survival of a historic football club.
“To the Morecambe fans, the Shrimp Trust, and the Board of Directors: we thank you for your continued strength and support. Your perseverance throughout this entire process has been nothing short of inspirational.
“This is the final hour. Let’s not look back with regret.
“Panjab Warriors. For the future of Morecambe FC.”
Morecambe owner blames abuse from fans for putting off potential buyers of club
Board of Directors statement (7th July): “Rod, Graham, Charlie, Mick and I have just met and agreed that we must remove ourselves as directors of Morecambe FC this evening, given that we stated publicly on Tuesday 1 July 2025 that unless a sale completed that day, administration was regrettably the only responsible option left to us.
“We have also agreed with the owner that we will be on standby to rejoin the club as directors tomorrow to facilitate the sale should it be ready to complete, subject to being invited by the owner to do so.
“James Wakefield, on behalf of Rod Taylor, Graham Howse, Mick Horton and Charlie Appleyard.”
Here’s how fans reacted to the strong statement issued by the would-be Morecambe owners Panjab Warriors to Jason Whittingham…
@RCGittins: Clear, open and honest statement which is a breath of fresh air after all the rubbish we’ve had from JW, Thank you @Panjabwarriors and @shrimpstrust let’s hope we can put this behind us and start rebuilding our club
@joelshooter47: Less than 24 hours after Jason claimed that Morecambe fans had put off potential buyers, prospective (and hopefully imminent) buyers Panjab Warriors refer to Morecambe fans as “inspirational”. Seems like PW weren’t put off!
@FreddieFletch5: generational statement
@jim_bell17: Anyone coming in will look like a saint compared to Mr Whittingham but Panjab actually seem to care. Release us from the purgatory that you have buried us into Jason and let the club be a normal football club for once
@stormcloud25: Steady on now lads, Jason doesn’t like social media criticism…. but your absolutely spot on. Well said @Panjabwarriors
@olivermagilll: Game over.
@Caprani14: Jason blaming the fans put to bed then
@slewpanova: Up the Panjabs 🦐
@jamesdickson906: Do the right thing you complete and utter scumbag! Let someone that want to progress the club do so! Playing with people’s lives like its a game you sick individual!
@Staners6: Fair play Panjab 🔥👊 It’s all down to you Jason again do the right thing 🙏👊❤️🦐⚽️
@DBuckleJourno: New owners literally BEGGING the man who “wants to sell” to sell the club Take a look people. This is the state of English football
