An upcoming friendly has been cancelled as Morecambe players decide not to play until the current ownership saga is resolved.
Morecambe were due to play Barrow on Tuesday 22 July, a decision was made to play behind closed door, but now it will no longer go ahead.
The Shrimps played in a friendly away at Marine, a 1-1 draw. They have also played Longridge (2-1 win) and beat Hyde 5-2.
Marine AFC 1-1 Morecambe FC pic.twitter.com/4UXBjMs99m
— Morecambe FC is DAYS away from extinction (@MorecambeFCFeed) July 19, 2025
Prospective buyers Panjab Warriors said at the weekend that they have decided to take legal action amid a proposed sale of Morecambe FC to a consortium led by Jonny Cato.
Earlier last week, it was claimed that consortium led by investor Jonny Cato was set to take over of the National League club, as confirmed by current owner Jason Whittingham.
This group is separate from Panjab Warriors, whose earlier takeover bid was approved by the EFL after Morecambe’s relegation from League Two.
Although terms were initially agreed with Panjab Warriors, Cato’s last-minute bid has taken precedence. Whittingham stated that Cato’s group, with no ties to his Bond Group, will finalise sales agreements, including a payment to cover staff and player wages during the National League approval process.
This follows a turbulent period, with fears for the club’s survival after partial payment of June’s payroll and threats of administration.
The former board, briefly sacked and reinstated, resigned after the Panjab Warriors deal collapsed.
The Trust would like to provide the following update on our understanding of the club’s current situation. pic.twitter.com/VuD97nHH9F
— Shrimps Trust 🦐 (@shrimpstrust) July 21, 2025
SHRIMPS TRUST STATEMENT:
The Trust would like to update members and fans alike on our actions, and the updates throughout the day/ over the weekend.
Bond Group
The Shrimps Trust understand that ‘Jonny Cato’ and consortium haven’t been introduced to the National League. And evidently due to lack of update from Bond Group, a deal wasn’t signed as promised, yet again. Tomorrow never comes with this man, it is always false promise, at convenient moments, to cause more delay, whilst our club slowly dies.
Every tomorrow that goes by, is another unpaid bill for our club staff. It’s another reminder letter from someone they owe money to, through no fault of their own.
The only person to blame for that is Jason Whittingham. The knock-on effects of this for the staff at the club are huge. No more nonsense statements for the benefit of Sky. No more dangling wages being paid in the cruel way you have over the past 3 weeks. Sell the club, Jason.
Regulators
We have been in touch with the EFL, NL & FA over the weekend. We urge all parties to move on matters as quickly as possible, especially after the Panjab Warriors statement over the weekend. We are meeting with the NL on Tuesday and will provide an update. We have worked with Lizzi Collinge MP over the weekend to urge the need for expedience from the regulating bodies.
Panjab Warriors
We were pleased to see PW statement yesterday. As per our previous statements we have been working with PW in relation to their legal action and will continue to support their needs in these matters.
Fixtures
Having made some enquiries we understand that the fixture on Tuesday has been cancelled as the players as a group have decided not to play until the current ownership position is resolved. The players along with club staff have not been paid for nearly 4 weeks. We support their decision.
Media
Thank you to all the media outlets for their support. We remain in touch with all contacts made and hope our story will continue to get more coverage, as is deserved, and to keep the pressure on Bond Group. We also have an interview with the Price of Football on Tuesday.
Trustee nominations
Thank you to everyone that is restanding next year, and to those that have nominated themselves to be Trustees, we are excited at the calibre of the nominees and the Trust will remain in good hands into the next term. Applicants will be voted on at the AGM.
AGM
Our AGM is booked on the 31st of July at 6:30pm for a 6:45pm start at the Strathmore Hotel. This is a formal meeting, with a business agenda to get through. We will be taking questions from members; however, the main focus of this meeting has to be on the formal constitutional matters the Trust has to legally complete each year.
We are pursuing all lines of action/ pressure that we can at present. We will update when is practicably possible.
Panjab Warriors take legal action amid proposed sale of Morecambe to Jonny Cato consortium
Twitter users reacted amid a friendly cancelled as Morecambe players decide not to play until the current ownership saga is resolved…
@The1920Union: The consequences of taking Jason Whittingham’s words at face value, seen yet again. We fully support the players in their decision to not play until there is a resolution to the situation. We implore the national media to continue reporting on our plight, and the continued lies and deceit from Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring who continue to hold hostage the pay of hundreds.
@MorecambeFCFeed: 🚨 Morecambe’s players have decided to not play until the ownership situation is resolved. Despite only receiving a third of their wage for June, they have trained professionally and played three pre-season fixtures. We’re with you lads. ❤️🦐
@K3ll_mari3: We stand in solidarity with our players ❤️⚽️ Definitely won’t have been a decision they made lightly. Let’s hope it puts some pressure on him to sell the club! Although highly debatable 😔
@cylertarter: Feel like I’m going mad. This entire situation ends by one man signing on the dotted line to the ready and waiting Panjab it’s really that simple
@Hopey_Media: Solidarity with the striking players. Hope they’re all looking into ways they can call in their debts as creditors, as admin is now the only way out.
@ctsmclovinya: Whatever you think about owner of your club, they’re not Whittingham with Morecambe. Two relegations in three years – weren’t relegated in 100+ years. Players/staff unpaid, using foodbanks. Friendlies stopped. Endless lies about selling club. Shrimps on verge of disappearing.
@Bobby_Brown43: Morecambe FC players are on STRIKE ( rightfully so ) until the ownership issue is resolved. Jason Whittingham is actively withholding payment to all club employees via stalling & backing out on an agreed purchase whilst adding to his jar of lies in an attempt to stall pressure.
@bafc_lancaster: Can’t blame their players for downing tools if they haven’t been paid. Power to the workers ✊
@9yrspodcast: And all the while that Premier League clubs charge astronomical ticket prices, shit like this goes on where real football is played. Dear Bond Group, Sort your shit out. Love, Football.
@thefootballpark: A terrible read. The football community must unite to oust the owner. This can be a first case of practice for the new regulator. They must act fast to save the community.
@trevk37: Doing more for the club and the supporters than Whittingham is managing. I can’t blame the players for not wanting to play, I would also imagine they have no club injury cover, only their own personal cover if they have that? Keep up the great work, and the rest of us will keep helping push it into the spotlight where it should be.
@WestSussexRam: I really feel for you. A living nightmare! Just from a practical point of view, isn’t it better at this point to get a creditor to put you into administration? Lots of downsides, but it takes control away from the current owner? PW could then buy the club out of admin
@dpsalmon: I don’t think there will be a single supporter of any club who won’t back the decision of the players to not play until the crisis is resolved. There’s a balance between season preparation, maintaining fitness and sharpness, and being taken for a mug. The line has been crossed. Plus, what if a player gets injured and then has to find another club? Not a decision the lads would have taken lightly I’m sure, but the right one. #UTS 🦐
