Community rallies round Morecambe FC staff

The Sultan Experience provides hundreds of curries for Morecambe FC staff

Local people are rallying around the staff at Morecambe Football Club, who have not been paid their full wages for the months of June and July.

The Sultan Experience, a Lancaster restaurant, has donated hundreds of meals to staff and fans of the club.

The Shrimps face the imminent prospect of shutting down due to a deepening financial crisis, with owner Jason Whittingham's failure to sell the club leading to suspension from the National League.

The BBC has made repeated requests to interview Mr Whittingham, but has had no response.

The Sultan Experience stepped in to help with free food.

They provided 125 curries to club staff, and 35 pizzas with 30 portions of chips to a primary school whose event at the football club was cancelled.

The restaurant also provided 40 free pizzas to fans queuing at the club's kit launch on Tuesday.

Sal Sultans, 27, one of the owners of the restaurant, said his family had been supported by the community for more than 85 years, and "now it's my turn to give back".

"We are Muslims and our faith teaches us the importance of charity, kindness and standing by others when they're going through difficult times," he added.

Morecambe fans have staged several protests against owner Jason Whittingham

Joanna Young from North Lancashire Citizen's Advice Bureau told BBC Radio Lancashire that the situation was "presenting a real challenge" for those employed by the club.

"When a club like this is in limbo, there's no clarity on employment law, because there's no clarity on the situation," she said.

Fans queuing on Morecambe Promenade ahead of the club's kit launch got free pizzas

Other football clubs have also shown their support for The Shrimps.

Bury FC and Garstang FC are among the clubs who offered free entry for Morecambe fans over the weekend.

Bury said they knew "all too well what it feels like", having been expelled by the Football League, and reformed as a phoenix club.

"We at Bury Football Club have watched with great sympathy and...we want you to know: you are not alone," they said.

BBC Sport approached Jason Whittingham outside his home last Monday, but he did not answer questions.

Morecambe were put up for sale by owners Bond Group in September 2022.

A sports investment company, Panjab Warriors, were in line to buy the club, but a deal has not yet been signed.

The Shrimps were suspended by the National League until 20 August over a failure to comply with the league's rules, meaning their opening three games of the season have been suspended.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, urged the Bond group and Jason Whittingham to "do the right thing, to ensure the outcome that every Morecambe fan and every football fan wants".

Sal Sultans' had this message for the owner: "Think about our community and think about our people."

The BBC is yet to receive a response from Mr Whittingham.