Morecambe FC owners vow to fight EFL charges over late payment of wages
The owners of Morecambe FC have vowed to defend themselves over English Football League (EFL) charges for failing to pay their players on time.
The EFL yesterday (December 18) imposed the charge, it said, for the club’s owners failing to adhere to an agreed decision imposed in August linked to late payments.
The club had been given a suspended three-point deduction over the matter.
Owner, Jason Whittingham, had been told to deposit an amount equal to 125% of the monthly wage bill to cover any future delays.
The EFL said that the following month the deposited funds had been used without being re-deposited, however.
The EFL said: “Mr Whittingham’s failure to re-deposit the funds has led to personal charges, while the club has also been charged for failing to meet deposit account requirements.
“The charges will now be considered by an independent disciplinary commission with the outcome to be communicated by the EFL once a decision is reached.”
In response, a club statement said that Bond Group, which owns the Lancashire club, had instructed “specialist sport lawyers to defend the club’s and owner’s position” at the commission hearing.
The statement said: “Firstly, these are misconduct charges that have been referred by the EFL to an independent disciplinary commission to take place in the New Year. Bond Group have, therefore, instructed specialist sports lawyers to defend the club’s and the owner’s position at that commission.
“Secondly, the board remains focused on the priority of ensuring that Morecambe Football Club meets all its obligations, which means working with Bond Group to prevent cashflow issues and doing everything within its powers to expedite the process of finding new ownership as quickly as possible.”
Morecambe currently sit eighth in League Two, following relegation from League One last season, the first in its history, but in December the board of directors warned that the club could be at “serious risk” with the Shrimps having been up for sale for 15 months.
The board also added it has “no confidence” in the club’s owners in overseeing a sale of the League Two side.
Morecambe’s owners, Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring, from Bond Group Investments, put the club up for sale in September 2022.
World heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson Fury, who lives in the town, said he had been offered the chance to buy the club in October 2022. He sponsors the club and owns the training pitches next to the stadium.
Sarbjot Johal, a 20-year-old entrepreneur, founder of non-alcoholic drinks brand Vitanic and who also claims to be chairman of private equity firm Sarb Capital, has been linked with a takeover on and off for months, but no approach has been made so far.
