INTERVIEWS: "Anger, frustration, sadness" - Fans unite at Morecambe FC over club crisis

It was a day of high emotion as fans of Morecambe FC gathered at the club they love, worried for its very existence.

Supporters were out in force on Friday morning as the national media arrived at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium to cover the plight of the Shrimps.

Fans were united in their concern for the future, as the club remains in financial strife, staff and player wages are now three weeks overdue, bills have been unpaid, events at the ground cancelled, and the long-awaited sale is still incomplete.

Rallying cries had gone out on social media, for as many people who cared about their local football club as possible to turn up, show support, and help spread the message far and wide that Morecambe FC is in dire straits - and the nightmare of the past few weeks needs to end.

The club opened its gates to fans and the media. The feeling of togetherness was palpable. 

Among those who were there, were former co-chairmen Rod Taylor and Graham Howse.

LISTEN to Graham Howse and Rod Taylor talking to Beyond Radio on Friday

The former directors have twice resigned from the board in recent weeks, frustrated that Morecambe FC owner Jason Whittingham of Bond Group Investments has not yet finalised a sale.

Mr Howse said: "This football club needs clarity, it needs to know there's going to be money in the bank to pay people, it needs to know the football club can function. It has such a massive impact on the community.

"It's heartbreaking and now looking at it from the outside it's even worse. We feel powerless."

Mr Taylor said he felt "mixed emotions - anger, frustration, sadness".

"Mr Whittingham just needs to get this over the line, get it done and we can all move on," he said.

"I can't stress enough how much anguish this has caused supporters, staff especially who have only been paid a third of their wages - wages are due again next week. It could be so easily resolved. It beggars belief, really."

Meanwhile staff continue to work at the club and the Morecambe players, who have won two pre-season friendlies in recent weeks, continue to prepare for a season in the National League starting on August 9 - that nobody is certain they will be able to play.

"The staff have been tremendous," said Mr Taylor.

"These aren't people on massive, massive salaries. They are doing their bit to try to help this football club to survive. And the players, the management are still here.

"From the point of view of holding events (at the club), that's a difficult one. Casual staff, they have other jobs as well. And to hold events, you need casual staff. And that hasn't been possible, and I understand the reasons why. So things like funeral wakes, school Proms, birthday celebrations were cancelled which is more than unfortunate. It's not the Morecambe way. But there was no choice.

"Since then, no further bookings have been taken. So cash dries up. 

"We've got the pre-season friendly next week against Barrow. That's now behind closed doors because you cannot compromise on safety.

"Senior staff here have had to take that decision, unfortunate as it is." 

Mr Howse said that today (Friday) paperwork has to be submitted to the National League with cashflows and projections for the next 12 months, to prove the club can survive the next year.

"Other things are starting to pile up at the football club," he said.

"They failed to pay their VAT on time last week. PAYE, unless some funds come in today, I don't see how that will be paid. It's desperate and important that the club receives the funds required.

"There are a lot of people who are keen to see this nightmare come to an end but there's one person who's in control of that situation and we just wish he'd do the right thing now and sell the club to a responsible buyer who've got the funds to keep the football club going."

Mr Taylor said "the worst case scenario is we don't have a football club".

"Hopefully we can get a (resolution) today but having experienced the last three weeks, I'm not over optimistic on that."

We also spoke to other fans of the club.

Mark Swindlehurst, Morecambe FC match day announcer for 32 years, said he was "frightened to death" for the future of the Shrimps and that the club was in a "dire, dire situation".

"We don't know what's happening...this club could fold," he said.

"And if this club folds, it's a massive, massive loss to the whole area. This is a community gem and we can't afford to lose it."

LISTEN to Mark Swindlehurst

Peter Day, a Shrimps fan for 50 years, said he was "devastated" and said "you can't trust anything (the owner) says or does".

"To think that this time next week we might not have a club, is absolutely soul-destroying."

Andy Dawe, who went to his first game in 1985, said he felt "let down by the football authorities" and "helpess" over the situation.

"We're waiting for someone to step in," he said.

"How long is this going to carry on for?"

LISTEN to Peter Day and Andy Dawe

Another supporter, Jenni Boyd, spoke about the unity and feeling of "family" among the supporters and the wider community.

"Everybody just wants one thing," she said.

"We just want our Morecambe."

LISTEN to Jenni Boyd

Grant Bruce said he hadn't bought his season ticket for 2025/26, and "It's killing me".

"We don't know if there's going to be a club," he said.

"These staff haven't been paid in so long. We should be relying on our owner to pay the staff the wages they have worked for."

LISTEN to Grant Bruce

As fans gathered at the front of the Mazuma, an open-top bus, carrying children from Torrisholme Primary School, drove through the car park as the pupils chanted: "Save our club!"

It was another reminder of how much Morecambe FC means to people of all ages, and all walks of life, throughout our community.

Photo credit: Jenni Boyd

*Mr Whittingham put out his latest statement on Friday, revealing the identity of the head of a consortium he says are in talks to buy the club.

It said: "An announcement had been planned for this afternoon, but due to false speculation about the buyer’s identity we have received consent to disclose the buyer’s identity. 

"Sales agreements will be completed today (Friday 18 July 2025) and will include a generous payment from the buyer to pay staff and players while the National League approval process is completed. We are grateful for this gesture of goodwill when the club and its stakeholders needed it most.

"This sale has progressed at a rapid pace and, once again, we are thankful to the buyer and his legal team for expediting the process to ensure the club’s status in the league was preserved.

"The buyers will engage directly with the National League and the fans to introduce themselves and share their exciting plans for the club.

"Further announcement to follow today."

This statement came out after the interviews in this article were conducted. 

UPDATE (July 19) - There were no further announcements from the club or from any prospective new owner on Friday July 18.

Pictured below, Jason Whittingham

MORECAMBE FC CRISIS: TIMELINE OF EVENTS SO FAR

Friday June 27: The Morecambe FC board of directors reveal that the planned sale of the club to Panjab Warriors is on the brink of collapse, just weeks after the prospective new owners gained clearance from the English Football League (EFL) to proceed with a takeover. The board said owners Bond Group Investments were "considering reneging on the deal". Players and staff at the club were due to be paid their monthly salaries, but hadn't received the money from the owners.

Tuesday July 1: The board gives Bond Group an ultimatum, sell to Panjab Warriors or the club faces being put into administration. By this point, staff have been paid around a third of their wages.

Wednesday July 2: Jason Whittingham denies "stalling" over the deal, says he still intends to sell but that "any transfer of shares (has to be) done in a way that holds no recourse for either the club or Bond Group". He says he intends to "resolve the matter of staff salaries" and wants to "avoid administration at all costs". As such, he says he has begun the process of dismissing the board. All five board members - co-chairmen Rod Taylor and Graham Howse, and James Wakefield, Charles Appleyard and Mick Horton - are terminated as directors at Companies House, although minutes of a Shrimps Trust meeting reveals all five had resigned before this.

Thursday July 3: Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale (below), says in Parliament that the club is "in crisis". Both she and Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, call on Bond Group to complete the sale. In a further statement, Jason Whittingham says "work continues to complete the sale process and give Morecambe Football Club the fresh start the club and its community deserve". Sponsors Bay Camera and Communications Ltd say they will stop sponsoring the club until it is sold.

Friday July 4: Mr Whittingham says the long-awaited sale will complete on Monday July 7 and that final terms have been agreed with Panjab Warriors. The board of directors, he said, have been invited back to "support the final stages of the sale process". The five directors are then reappointed. The Shrimps Trust said they had spoken to Kuljeet Singh Momi of Panjab Warriors, who confirmed an agreement had been reached. But, said the trust: "If a deal is indeed agreed, we do not understand why it needs the weekend to complete."

Monday July 7: Mr Whittingham says the sale will not complete on Monday as extra time is needed for "final items" to be signed off and "it’s likely we will need tomorrow to complete the sale.’’ In response, the board of directors resign again. Mr Whittingham also says there has been "a campaign of abuse" against him and his family on social media and this has "put off at least two potential buyers" of the football club.

Tuesday July 8: Panjab Warriors say everything is ready for them to take charge and accuse Mr Whittingham of holding the club hostage. As the new Football Governance Bill passes through the Commons, Lizzi Collinge calls on the Morecambe FC owner to "sign the damn paperwork". Morecambe beat Longridge 2-1 in their first pre-season friendly.

Wednesday July 9: Jason Whittingham says a new buyer has come forward and agreements will be signed "this evening". The Shrimps Trust respond by saying that the National League had not been made aware of the alternate buyer.

Thursday July 10: Panjab Warriors say they are "currently seeking legal advice and will begin exploring all legal avenues, including action for misrepresentation and recovery of funds". Meanwhile, events and functions at the football club are having to be cancelled, including parties for primary school leavers, due to the ongoing issues.

Friday July 11: Tarnia Elsworth of the Shrimps Trust said the club was "effectively grinding to a halt". The club is, by now, under a transfer embargo preventing them from signing new players.

Saturday July 12: Panjab Warriors has raised formal complaints with the National League. They have called for an investigation - alleging breaches of the Owners' and Directors' Test (OADT) which owners have to pass to show they are fit and proper to own a football club.

Monday July 14 In an interview with 'The Ugly Game' website, Rod Taylor, former co-chairman of Morecambe, says the club has "only days left, literally days.”

Tuesday July 15: Fans club together to raise money for a treat for the playing staff, who still have not been paid in full. Morecambe defeat Hyde United 5-2 in a pre-season friendly.

Wednesday July 16: Morecambe announce their upcoming pre-season fixture against Barrow AFC on Tuesday July 22 at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium will now be played behind closed doors.

Thursday July 17: The Shrimps Trust reveal the name of a person they say that two different sources have told them is in talks over the sale. Mr Whittingham released a statement saying "recent guesses" on the identity of a prospective new buyer of the club are "not accurate".

TIMELINE of events from September 2022 to December 2024.

Timeline: How the Morecambe FC sale saga has dragged on for two years - Beyond Radio

Read more about the ongoing crisis at Morecambe FC at these links:

Morecambe FC crisis: Owner names head of prospective new buyers of club - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: Fans rally round to offer support to playing staff - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: "Club effectively grinding to a halt" - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: Panjab Warriors threaten legal action after Shrimps sale U-turn - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC crisis: Owner announces last-minute new buyer of club - Beyond Radio

Businesses rally round to help Morecambe FC staff as wages remain unpaid - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC owners-in-waiting say club is "being held hostage" over delayed sale - Beyond Radio

UPDATED: Morecambe FC takeover deal still not done as board resign for second time - Beyond Radio

Morecambe FC owner says social media ‘campaign of abuse’ has put off potential buyers of club

Morecambe FC owners say sale of club will complete on Monday

Morecambe FC crisis: Devastated Shrimps fan withdraws sponsorship until club is sold

Morecambe FC owner says "work continues to complete the sale process" 

‘Crisis point’ - Morecambe FC owner sacks board of directors as administration row rumbles on

Administration threat as Morecambe FC owner given sale ultimatum

'Where is the money?' Morecambe FC sale on brink of collapse after wages delay