Morecambe FC’s ongoing ownership crisis has deepened after players reportedly refused to play in Tuesday’s scheduled friendly against Barrow, prompting the club to cancel their only home pre-season fixture.
Players Take Stand As Crisis Worsens
The Shrimps were due to face Barrow behind closed doors at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, but the match was called off late on Saturday with no official explanation. However, the Shrimps Trust has since claimed the cancellation stems from a collective decision by players not to take part until the club’s ownership issues are resolved.
In a strongly worded statement, the fan group said players and staff have now gone nearly four weeks without pay, describing the situation as untenable and calling for immediate action from current owner Jason Whittingham and Bond Group Investments.
“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 Trust said. “The players along with club staff have not been paid for nearly four weeks. We support their decision.”
The match had originally been set to take place in front of fans but was moved behind closed doors shortly before being called off entirely. It follows a 1-1 draw against Marine in Morecambe’s opening pre-season fixture.
Legal Action and Empty Promises
The cancellation comes at a time of increasing unrest around the club, with the Panjab Warriors consortium confirming legal proceedings have begun against Whittingham and Bond Group for repeated breaches of sale agreements and a lack of good faith.
Jason Whittingham issued another statement last Friday claiming a new sale agreement with a group led by Jonny Cato was imminent. It marked the fifth such promise in two weeks, yet no further update has followed. The Trust stated Cato and his consortium have not been formally introduced to the National League, adding further doubt to the claim.
Staff remain unpaid for June, and local school events at the stadium have been cancelled. The club is also under a National League embargo, leaving preparations for the 2025/26 season in disarray. Morecambe are set to begin their National League campaign away at Boston United on August 9, but whether the club is in any fit state to do so is increasingly unclear.
Writer’s View
Tuesday’s cancellation is more than just a logistical setback, it is a symbolic breaking point. When players refuse to take the pitch, even in a friendly, it signals a total collapse of trust between dressing room and boardroom.
Jason Whittingham’s repeated statements have offered only hollow reassurance, with missed wages and vague promises leaving staff and supporters in the dark. Morecambe now face a race against time to secure stability before the new season kicks off. Without urgent and transparent action, there may be no club fit to compete at all.
