National League to 'discuss Morecambe sanctions'

Morecambe are due to face Boston United on 9 August as their National League campaign gets under way

The National League have "serious concerns" surrounding Morecambe's compliance with its rules and intends to "discuss possible further sanctions", the body has said in a statement.

The beleaguered club has had a chaotic summer since being relegated from League Two, with a deal yet to take place despite two parties having takeover bids accepted, while the board of directors resigned.

The league said they had met with Shrimps owner Jason Whittingham on Thursday in order to "outline terms that must be met" by 12:00 BST on Monday.

Discussions were held regarding the club's ability to meet its financial obligations for the coming 2025-26 season, it added, with a further meeting of its Club Compliance and Licensing committee due to meet again on Monday.

Whittingham put the club up for sale in September 2022 but a deal has still not been done, with the club tumbling from League One to the National League having been relegated in two of the past three seasons.

Panjab Warriors have been part of a takeover attempt of the club for more than a year and the EFL approved their takeover earlier this summer after their relegation from League Two was confirmed, but that deal has still not got over the line.

Meanwhile, another takeover bid from a consortium led by Jonny Cato was also accepted earlier in July, but it is unclear where that bid - or that of Panjab Warriors' efforts - stands with just over two weeks remaining until the start of the season.

It has been a fraught summer for the Lancashire club, as the Shrimps' board previously threatened to put the club into administration if a deal was not completed.

The board were then sacked by Whittingham but then swiftly brought back to help the deal with Panjab Warriors take place.

Soon after, the board resigned as that deal stalled, with Cato's "last minute" bid later accepted, however he has not been seen or heard from in public since the deal was announced.