Club Statement

[Wild Bill]

When is enough enough? When do we make our voice heard?

I suggested a week or so ago that we should have some kind of protest at the Swansea game ie Banners etc.

With the game being shown on Welsh TV and overseas it would bring attention to our clubs plight and expose both Jason and The Bond Group for what they are..... #

I suspect the reasoning for our BoDs statement a few weeks ago was driven in part by the news that Jason and Co have taken back the EFL Payment for his / Bond Group own use and the news that Bond Group will act to defend the issue fills me with horror. They will act in their own interests and NOT I fear with that of our club....

Just a suggestion...but why not leave it to our BOD...any form of protest might jeopardise their position. We are all in this fight together. I for one trust them implicitly...

I feel for the board, however we have had the same lines for 7-8 years. I think the first thing that needs to happen is for the board to meet the trust and then a strategy formed that we can all get behind.

[jbc.shrimp]

The funds these charges are on came from one account, so how can there be two charges, one on Bond and a seperate charge on the club. Did both parties remove funds from the account. If not surely it's the guilty party who should be charged.

[shrimpsontoast]

If you look at the original agreed decision, it appears that there are various conditions attaching to the operation of the deposit account (over and above the basic payment obligations), full details of which are set out in a non-public agreement between the club and the EFL. So it’s not clear what breach they are alleging other than a failure to replenish the account. The failure to replenish appears to be the only charge that could trigger the point deduction, albeit maybe the lawyers will argue that 7(a)(i) only applies to the original deposit requirement because it refers to “payment” whereas it could have referred to “any payments required under 7(b)” (good luck with that one!). It also doesn’t say in the agreed decision how long you get to top up the account if money has been withdrawn from it. Maybe that’s not clear in the underlying agreement and the lawyers are going to argue about that. Time will tell..

[Old Man Kensey]

It doesn't say who took the money out. If it was Jason he's just a crook, if the board took the money to pay the wages that's even more worrying. That would also mean that Jason saved himself a months worth of wages, so either way he's laughing. The Board don't come out of this looking good as they told everyone that we should get our Season Tickets as Jason cannot touch the day to day money of the club. If he's stolen the monthly wages/or not paid them then he has taken money from the club.

What worries me the most is Jason doesn't seem to be in contact with anyone. Which mirrors what he did at the Rugby club that he left to rot. Administration would drop us down to about 3 points above the relegation zone (with the other 3 points as well). I'd imagine that the loan players would go back in January too if their clubs think we are messing them about. Its just a bloody mess and sorting it out could cost us our place in the football league. I blame Peter Mcguigan, he started this shit show.

[Seasider9601]

I blame Peter Mcguigan, he started this shit show.

Same here. Absolutely.

Let's face it, it's been a catalogue of problems and disasters since May 2010 when we left our home.

Literally one thing after another, from the opening game "lack of gravy" scandal right through to the utter carnage we now find ourselves in.

Can't begin to imagine what Rod and Graham are going through with the stress etc this will be causing them and this whole situation is heartbreaking.

[BerlinWaller]

PMG and his sidekick have a lot to answer for, no doubts about that.

Our only hope as fans is to make the club too hot to handle for JW. We need to make sure that the media know what he is doing and ruin what is left of his reputation. If it starts to make it difficult for him to earn a living then he may do the right thing.

It is unfair to expect the trust to organise any form of protest, they are not there for that. They have done masses of work behind the scenes and all in their own time.

[Old Man Kensey]

Not sure Jason cares about his reputation, looking at how he cared none about the Rugby club that he destroyed.

I keep trying to work out what Whittingham is getting out of this. If he took the money because he plans for us to go into administration that would make some sense. He would of lost that money but now its already gone there is little an administrator could do about it. He appears to be running rings around the board, who I am sure are losing sleep over this, but they are in no position to do anything.

A protest is now a must, be what?

[Billy bodger]

If the BOD’s open letter is to mean anything and they and the executives of the club did not have anything to do with taking out the money from the special account, has their situation become untenable? They must defend the club separately from the other two charges against Whittingham. In the open letter it states ‘no money can be taken out of the club without the board’s permission’, does that include the special account? If so has Jason took it out without their permission or did they grant Jason permission? When did the League contact the club? The League says it requested Mr Whittingham to replenish the special account, if the BOD’s where in the dark money had been taken out, surely that is a defence tge club can use to stop the club being penalised by the actions of Mr Whittingham. If they did know then I would think the 3 point penalty will be applied and maybe further sanctions not only against Whittingham but the club. What will the clubs of the loan players think of all this? Let’s hope they keep faith in how Morecambe FC is bringing on their young players and do not recall any in January.

[Seasider9601]

PMG and his sidekick have a lot to answer for, no doubts about that.

Exactly. The bloody pair of them.

[Andy D]

Allied Dunbar TV Advert, “Trouble Ahead” 1995

click -> https://youtu.be/u5u1AbYIdjA?si=quuzPNPsJgzZOC5m

[redrobo]

As reported in the Redditch Advertiser.

https://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/sp ... arged-efl/

[Billy bodger]

Worcester Mk2, it’s a slow process but is that the ultimate goal of Mr Whittingham!! Morecambe in administration, ultimately maybe liquidation? I think without the board this would have most likely have already happened. The running of the club, being run separately is saving it, but for how long? If the BODs resign and are then out of the way, as per se, does that hand Whittingham the reigns to run the club?
Is that his game?

[black morse]

Worcester Mk2, it’s a slow process but is that the ultimate goal of Mr Whittingham!! Morecambe in administration, ultimately maybe liquidation? I think without the board this would have most likely have already happened. The running of the club, being run separately is saving it, but for how long? If the BODs resign and are then out of the way, as per se, does that hand Whittingham the reigns to run the club?
Is that his game?

But what does he gain from the club going into administration or liquidation?

[BerlinWaller]

Worcester Mk2, it’s a slow process but is that the ultimate goal of Mr Whittingham!! Morecambe in administration, ultimately maybe liquidation? I think without the board this would have most likely have already happened. The running of the club, being run separately is saving it, but for how long? If the BODs resign and are then out of the way, as per se, does that hand Whittingham the reigns to run the club?
Is that his game?

But what does he gain from the club going into administration or liquidation?

I reckon that administration is the BoD's trump card.

[Old Man Kensey]

Would going into administration not be really bad for us.
Aren't they suppose to look after outstanding creditors first? Would that not mean Sarbjot and Whittingham getting paid out first?

Nothing to stop him removing the current board if he so wished, he has more than enough shares to do so, over 80%?

[KenH]

Would going into administration not be really bad for us.
Aren't they suppose to look after outstanding creditors first? Would that not mean Sarbjot and Whittingham getting paid out first?

Nothing to stop him removing the current board if he so wished, he has more than enough shares to do so, over 80%?

Shareholders are the last in the pecking order, so Sarbjot and Jason would lose the money they paid in for shares. If they paid in any as a loan, they "may" get some of that back, depending on who else the club owes money to, i.e. taxes, suppliers, wages, creditors and other loans.

The liquidators would have to choose who to sell the club to, so the BOD would have to make an offer to buy it from them, as could any other interested party including Jason and Sarbjot!!

[Billy bodger]

Worcester Mk2, it’s a slow process but is that the ultimate goal of Mr Whittingham!! Morecambe in administration, ultimately maybe liquidation? I think without the board this would have most likely have already happened. The running of the club, being run separately is saving it, but for how long? If the BODs resign and are then out of the way, as per se, does that hand Whittingham the reigns to run the club?
Is that his game?

But what does he gain from the club going into administration or liquidation?

I hope the club does not go into administration or liquidation, we are in league two, so the potential of going out of the league is unfortunately a realistic possibility. Even if Morecambe survive as a club, they will be penalised by the League. Whittingham will probably not have to pay off his debts so is that his gain?? I think that’s why he let Worcester slide into administration and finally liquidation, WHO KNOWS HOW HIS MIND WORKS !! While of course there is still a chance of a buyer coming in and buying Morecambe FC, I think Whittingham knows after about 16 mths he is not going to get the price he wants that’s not going to happen. Would any potential buyer now want to wait and see if the club to go into administration before putting in an offer that would be acceptable to the administrators as it may well be lower.

I think everyone in football know that Morecambe’s BOD’s are trying their best for the club in horrendous circumstances. If they can plot a path through this mess they are miracle workers.

[glagys]

EFL took a little look at Reading’s owner and find him 20K hope the look at us in the same light
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67763259

[black morse]

EFL took a little look at Reading’s owner and find him 20K hope the look at us in the same light
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67763259

Sounds very similar to our position.

[glagys]

Sounds very similar to our position.

Yep I thought that too hopefully we get an understanding review of what’s gone on

[Billy bodger]

EFL took a little look at Reading’s owner and find him 20K hope the look at us in the same light
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67763259

Sounds very similar to our position.

Yes I agree it seems very similar, if it was Whittingham fault. Let’s hope the league just punish Whittingham with a fine and that they see that the BOD’s run the club properly and the withdrawal was not their fault. I hope the league is lenient towards actually applying the 3 point penalty to the club this time and fore go the points deduction in this instance.

[fulwoodshrimp]

I can understand the view that us protesting about Bond Investments would be a waste of time and not achieve anything but personally I would not want us to sit quietly by and see disaster befall our beloved club. I don't want in future years to regret that we did nothing and saw MFC decline and follow the example of the Southend Uniteds, Yeovil Towns and Rushden and Diamonds. Whatever happens I would feel better that we tried and showed our unhappiness at the current cowboy owner. I hope we can protest at the Swansea game and show our feelings in front of the cameras. I would hope the Trust could organise our protest with banners, posters etc. Then at least we can say we tried to publicise what Whittingham is doing to our club. He is a disgrace to sport and many realise that with his treatment of Worcester Rugby Club. Lets make sure others become aware of his deranged behaviour and let many know we want nothing to do with him and his warped business ethics.

[KenH]

PMG and his sidekick have a lot to answer for, no doubts about that.

Exactly. The bloody pair of them.

It's still difficult to believe how they managed to squander such a golden opportunity with a chain of illogical, incompetent, and frankly bonkers "business" decisions. It was almost as if they wanted to run the club into the ground. The mind really boggles! The advertising & marketing in particular was incredibly poor, amateurish and naive. Never did find anyone in Morecambe other than MFC supporters who knew we had a gym - then that pair act surprised when so few people joined!!

The club could have done so much with the money paid by Sainsbury - heaven only knows where it all went! I can't help feeling the club were ripped off on a massive scale by suppliers etc.

[Gone_Shrimping]

PMG and his sidekick have a lot to answer for, no doubts about that.

Exactly. The bloody pair of them.

It's still difficult to believe how they managed to squander such a golden opportunity with a chain of illogical, incompetent, and frankly bonkers "business" decisions. It was almost as if they wanted to run the club into the ground. The mind really boggles! The advertising & marketing in particular was incredibly poor, amateurish and naive. Never did find anyone in Morecambe other than MFC supporters who knew we had a gym - then that pair act surprised when so few people joined!!

The club could have done so much with the money paid by Sainsbury - heaven only knows where it all went! I can't help feeling the club were ripped off on a massive scale by suppliers etc.

I could never understand how we got landed with Globe to build the ground. Why didn't we just ask Burton Albion who their architects and builders were and take it from there. It was shocking to see the North Stand being torn down 12 years after being built.

I was always of the opinion that we should have built the main stand down the car wash side , with the bars , offices and shops etc on Lancaster Road which is a main bus route for fans unlike Westgate. A decent business plan and cash flow forecast to obtain finance from a lender.

All water under the bridge unfortunately.

[Keith]

“In August, funds were deposited in line with the agreement for a previous failure to pay the club’s wage bill,” an EFL statement read.

“However, on September 4 those funds were used and Whittingham failed to re-deposit the amount despite requests from the league."

Am I reading too much in to the use of the word "used"? Might it be that Whittingham deposited the September salary money in to the account, which appeased the EFL, then left it, so that the money then had to be used for salaries? Did he basically just buy some time?