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Owner's statement
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A consortium looking to take over beleaguered National League club Morecambe is being led by an investor called Jonny Cato, the Shrimps' current owner has said.

Cato's consortium is separate to that of Panjab Warriors, who had their own takeover bid approved by the English Football League shortly after the club's relegation from League Two last season.

Shrimps owner Jason Whittingham had previously said terms had been agreed with Panjab Warriors, with a deal set to be formally completed earlier in July, before a "last-minute bid" came in from Cato.

In a statement, external on Friday, Whittingham said Cato would be part of "an impressive group being built around him to develop the club over the coming seasons".

"Neither Jonny or his team have any connection to Jason or [his] Bond Group [firm] of any kind," the statement continued.

"Sales agreements will be completed today (Friday) and will include a generous payment from the buyer to pay staff and players while the National League approval process is completed. We are grateful for this gesture of goodwill when the club and its stakeholders needed it most."

A further update will be given later on Friday, the statement added.


The announcement of Cato's identity comes a day after former co-chairman Rod Taylor said he was "fearful" for the club's existence, with June's payroll only partially paid after a turbulent summer.

Taylor and the former board of directors had threatened to put the club into administration at the beginning of July if a deal to sell the Shrimps did not go ahead.

Whittingham then sacked the board in response but brought them back days later in order to help finalise a deal to sell the club to Panjab Warriors.

When that deal did not go through, the board resigned from their posts, and former board member James Wakefield told BBC Radio Lancashire on Thursday he was amazed the club was still operating and predicted it could have only days left.

Morecambe are scheduled to begin their 2025-26 National League campaign against Boston on 9 August.

No further update was provided , the only Johnny Cato anyone can find is a Swedish politician. The owner of the club was previously owner of Worcester Warriors Rugby Union team who went bust, this is going the same way

Morecambe's former co-chairman Rod Taylor says he is fearful for the existence of the club as a prolonged takeover continues.

The Shrimps had looked set to be bought by the Panjab Warriors group when the EFL approved their takeover in June.

With the deal still to go through, however, the board of directors threatened to put the club into administration and later resigned, with owner Jason Whittingham then opting to sell the club to a different party in a "last minute deal" which is still to take place.

Morecambe are scheduled to begin their 2025-26 National League campaign against Boston on 9 August but an embattled summer off the field, which has included incomplete wage payments from June's payroll to staff and the remainder of the playing and coaching staff, has overshadowed pre-season preparations.

"It's extremely serious. It's critical. We're right in the last throes of this now. You just don't know where to go next," Taylor told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We're doing all we can as ex-officials, we can't play any part beyond that. We're right in the throes of we may not have a club this time next week.

"I think it could be as serious as that. There has to be movement rapidly.

"I'm fearful. As we stand today I am fearful for the existence of the club. I hope and pray that he [Whittingham] sees sense and gets the papers signed."

BBC Radio Lancashire have contacted Whittingham for comment.

Whittingham previously said terms had been agreed with Panjab Warriors with a deal set to be formally completed shortly after.

The club's board of directors had stepped down with the deal still to be concluded, having previously tried to put the club into administration in early July when the deal dragged on.

Despite Panjab Warriors looking set to take over Whittingham last week said an unidentified buyer had worked to pay outstanding wages as well as agreeing contracts pending the approval of a sale by the National League.

The identity of the new party is unknown, and in a statement issued by Whittingham on Thursday, he said that the club were looking to complete a deal "as quickly as possible".

"We can confirm that a takeover deal is near completion with a consortium of individuals headed by people with genuine football experience, to acquire Bond Group's interest in the club," the statement said., external

"We can also confirm that despite speculation on the buyers' identity, nobody from the consortium has yet been named publicly and recent guesses are not accurate.

"The buyers have funds available to bring payments for the club up to date and we are working to conclude the transaction as quickly as possible."


Former board member James Wakefield said he was surprised the club was still in existence and, when asked by BBC Radio Lancashire how long the Shrimps could continue operating, he theorised that they could have just "days" left.

"I'm amazed it's still alive today. We as a board decided that the only responsible course of action was to put the club into administration and that was on 1 July, 16 days ago," Wakefield said earlier on Thursday, before the latest club statement.

"It's still dragging on. It's days. It's literally days. There will be payroll again quite soon and the club's not meeting its obligations at the moment, the most important of which is staff wages.

"But I'm amazed it's still alive quite frankly."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?
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