Embattled Morecambe FC’s current owner, Jason Whittingham and his Bond Group have issued a public statement in response to would-be buyers Panjab Warriors’ claim that Whittingham had cancelled a planned mediation meeting between the warring parties last Friday.
In the statement, Whittingham claims that he is working with “a number of potential buyers” to secure the sale of the club, and that the Warriors’ claims “ bear no relevance to actual events.”
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Whittingham’s statement in full, published on Morecambe FC’s website, reads:
“We continue to work with a number of potential buyers to secure the future of Morecambe Football Club, all of whom are aware of the urgency of the Club’s position and fully expect this process to complete this week.
“There has seen a flurry of interest over the last month, and each potential Buyer has been given the required information and support in order to finalise their intention and plans toward the Club and the Community.
“This includes Panjab Warriors who, unfortunately, continue to issue statements that bear no relevance to actual events, are unhelpful and quite frankly bemusing. That said we have agreed to a Mediation meeting with Panjab, for this Wednesday, and await them confirming final details. Despite Panjab’s recent comments it was Bond Group that formally invited Panjab to Mediation but received no response from them.
“Those not directly involved in this process choose to make uninformed statements for their own self-promotion, including Members of Parliament. None of these people have made any effort to contact Bond Group in order to discuss the situation directly but instead use their platforms to spread inaccurate information which is irresponsible and has affected the sale process.
“Key stakeholders of the club are regularly updated, as we along with our Advisory team engage with Buyers and remain fully supportive of the process.
“We will be appointing an Interim Board imminently to facilitate the final stages of the sale process.”
In response, supporters’ group the Shrimps Trust said the National League had confirmed to them that “no party other than Panjab Warriors had approached them for the required approval” to take over the club.
Panjab Warriors have been attempting to buy the club for more than a year, and have previously said they have already put significant funding in place to keep the Shrimps running until now. Morecambe, who were relegated from the English Football League (EFL) last season, were due to face Boston United on Saturday to kick off their 2025-26 National League campaign, however the game did not take place as Morecambe are currently suspended from the league due to their financial situation.
