The following month, the Government placed WRFC Trading Limited, the company that owned the rugby club, in administration. So, who knows? As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Football in the town dates back to the turn of the 20th century; however, it was not until 7 May 1920 that Morecambe FC was formed after a meeting at the local West View Hotel. twitter. Morecambe's owner Bond Group Investments put the League One club up for sale, with Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring stepping down from the board. Morecambe's other local rivals include Barrow, Lancaster City, Fleetwood Town, Kendal Town and Southport. Christie bequeathed the ground to the club in 1927 and also helped incorporate the club into a Limited Company with a then share capital of 1,000. [7] McIlroy, who took over as manager from Jim Harvey, had left the club alongside assistant Mark Lillis. After McIlroy's initial three-month stint as caretaker expired, he was given the job for the remainder of the season with Harvey expected to return on its closure. Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news TheBusinessDesk.com 2008 - 2023. The plan was to buy it and from a business point of view turn it around because only three clubs in League Two break even and Morecambe was losing half a million a year, Whittingham said. Morecambe currently find themselves one point from safety down in 21st in League One after losing 5-0 away to Derby County on Saturday. As part of the process, Shrimps owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring from Bond Group Investments Ltd will be stepping back from their positions on the board of directors. A man has died after a road traffic collision in Bolton-le-Sands. They, along with the rest of the Board of Directors weve appointed, have worked better than we could have hoped for, including the valuable, dedicated and ongoing efforts of Mick Horton, Charlie Appleyard, James Wakefield and more recently Ben Sadler. In September, Morecambe FC announced that Jason Whittingham of Bond Group Investments and Colin Goldring were stepping back from their positions on the board of directors, as the club was being prepared to be sold. I grew up in a small village near Wolverhampton. As part of the process, Shrimps owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring from Bond Group Investments Ltd will be stepping back from their positions on the board of directors. He is the founder of Vitanic Holdings Limited, a non-alcoholic beverage company based in Birmingham. Our attentions have been elsewhere, and the Board have more than proven their ability and dedication to the Club. In an update on the clubs website he intimated that 20-year-old entrepreneur Sarbjot Johal is in pole position to take control. Free heritage skills training courses will be held in Lancaster this month as part of the Lancaster High Streets Heritage Action Zone. Theyre in League One at the moment. I am from Surrey originally and grew up on the Isle of Wight as my family moved down there. The Rugby Football Union suspended the club from all rugby competition. Businessman Sarbjot Johal has all but completed his takeover of Morecambe, with the club confirming his purchase has been finalised subject to being approved by the EFL, For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter. I moved up to London about the age of 19 and did my law degree in Hertfordshire at 21. In October, WRFC Players Limited, the company that employed the players and staff, was wound up in court. Everyone said we were mad for buying before that decider match, but wed already bought into the Clubs culture and could see the passion that everyone in Morecambe had for the Club. Something went wrong, please try again later. However, Johal will now become the new owner, having already purchased equity in the club, with his takeover to be finalised once he has passed the EFL's owners and directors test. Copyright 2023 Proper Community Media Lancaster Ltd T/A Beyond Radio & Aiir. The club quickly declared the appointment of a caretaker manager, Sammy McIlroy, a long-time friend of Harvey. Morecambe fell to a 1-0 defeat against Fleetwood Town in a closely contested Lancashire derby at Highbury on Saturday afternoon. I am, along with Sarbjot, keen that the process should now move on at pace to come to a positive conclusion.". In a public statement this afternoon (September 2), it was announced Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring will be stepping back from their positions on the Board of Directors. Birmingham-based Johal is the founder of non-alcoholic drinks brand Vitanic and also chairman of private equity firm Sarb Capital. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. You might be looking at a football club owner.. Ive been offered to buy Morecambe Football Club. Get latest scores and headlines sent straight to your phone, sign-up to our newsletter and learn where to find us on online. A medical student from Lancaster University has won a major accolade from the Royal Society of Medicine. We look back with pride at what the Club has become in the years of our ownership it doesnt feel like four-and-a-half years since when we took over with one game left of the season and the Clubs future in the EFL uncertain. . This followed concerns raised by other sources over the financial viability of the drinks entrepreneur's possible buy-out of the League One club. (3.4.0) - All external content remains the property of the rightful owner. Since elevation to the Conference in season 199596, the Shrimps achieved status as one of the leading teams in the league. Science + Discovery; Gunnercooke; Synapse 360; FW Capital; Broadway Insurance; Butcher + Barlow, People: VM Family Law; Autism Together; JLL; Together; Pannone Corporate; Crimson Panda, People: Barings; Redrow; Curtins; Arcadis; Sync; JM Glendinning Insurance Brokers, Rocketing growth at innovative software business, Growth at Manchester tech firm shows no sign of slowing down, IT expert SysGroup targeting retail for further growth, New river terminal announced as part of regions burgeoning hydrogen industry, New housebuilder launches focused on single-family market in North and Midlands, International insurance group swoops in deal for Salford broker, RSK acquires Scottish technical FM and energy solutions business, Digital bank chooses Landmark as base for its 1,000-strong Manchester workforce. I have always been someone that would try to break the mould and push myself. The club also saw success in the league, qualifying for the League Two play-offs with 78 points, good enough for fourth in the league; they missed out on automatic promotion by a single point. We are businessmen who were offered Morecambe first. The club, nicknamed the Shrimps, is currently owned by businessman Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham. You'll have to find the ghoul in under 11 seconds, so can you do it? Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Our attentions have been elsewhere, and the board have more than proven their ability and dedication to the club. However, the club would not confirm, nor deny, whether it is to be sold to Johal. "We have absolute trust in the current Board of Directors to run the Club, with Bond Group still supporting the Board as majority shareholder. He sponsors the club and owns the training pitches next to the stadium. [24], Table of kit suppliers and shirt sponsors appear below:[25], The Shrimps mascot is Christie the cat. So, who knows? "We understand Sarb Capital have already invested an amount of equity into the club and their intention would be to invest further equity through share issue. When we decided to get into business together, we actually had no idea what businesses we would go into. As a child I was an Aston Villa supporter, my uncle was a Wolves supporter and my friends were West Brom fans. Our history is in law, finance and commercial and as businessmen., READ MORE: WARRIORS OWNERS DETAIL THREE-YEAR PLAN TO BREAK EVEN. Sharing grounds with Morecambe Cricket Club at Woodhill Lane during the first season, football proved popular, with crowds in excess of 3,000 for derby fixtures with Lancaster City and Fleetwood Town. Morecambe fixtures tab is showing the last 100 football matches with statistics and win/draw/lose icons. Jaguar Land Rover seeks 500m from government for new Fifth acquisition for Place Capital Group adds video dimension, New leadership team at KPMG corporate finance, People: Eureka! They came in, steadied the ship and helped the club to progress from afar so . The next 12 years were as barren as any previous period in the club's history. [5] On 14 August 2007, Morecambe played their first fixture in the League Cup and recorded a 21 win against near neighbours Preston North End at Deepdale with Jim Bentley and David Artell scoring for Morecambe. To do this click on the cookie settings button below. They, along with the rest of the board of directors weve appointed, have worked better than we could have hoped for, including the valuable, dedicated and ongoing efforts of Mick Horton, Charlie Appleyard, James Wakefield and more recently Ben Sadler. Bond Group say they will continue their support of the board and the club as the majority shareholder, until such a time as a new owner is found and can take the club forwards. However, Morecambe lost 5 goals to 0. The pair have owned Morecambe since May 2018 and also took control of Worcester Warriors in the West Midlands in the following year. SEE BOTTOM OF STORY TO FIND OUT DUO'S BACKGROUNDS. Police are appealing for witnesses after a hate crime in Lancaster city centre. However, this didn't last, as a poor end to the season led to Morecambe finishing 15th in League Two, still an improvement on the previous season. "Sarbjot was keen to impress upon us that the financial position and performance of the trading entities within the Sarb Capital group are vastly changed from the financial statements currently on public record at Companies House. They joined the newly formed Northern Premier League in 1968 and went on to win the FA Trophy in 1974 and the Northern Premier League President's Cup in 1992. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Among other events, the season saw the club face two Premier League sides in various cup competitions, falling to Newcastle United[12] in the third round of the EFL Cup and to Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge;[13] the latter equaled their furthest run in the FA Cup since the early 2000s. 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Ticket Details | Bolton Wanderers (H) Morecambe FC - Official Site 18:40 17-Feb-23 EFL ask for meeting with potential Morecambe owner BBC 16:45 17-Feb-23 EFL Statement: Morecambe EFL - Official Site 16:12 17-Feb-23 A famous fan fight at Morecambe v Peterborough United would be fun and the lowdown on the Peterborough Telegraph 16:02 17-Feb-23 "We would like to thank Bill for his contribution since he first joined the Board six years ago," said Whittingham. Although success on the field was hard to come by, with the club languishing near the bottom of the table, at the end of the first season the club moved grounds to Roseberry Park. "I now feel that the club is in a good place and I shall let the new team get on with it. Bond Group Investments have owned the club since 2018. A major change to the Morecambe to Preston and Lancaster to Blackpool bus services has been announced. A man has died after a road traffic collision in Bolton-le-Sands. He began work as a construction worker, aged 13, alongside his father. A public consultation has been launched on plans to build a link road between South Lancaster and the M6. They lost to Hereford 43 on aggregate, but McIlroy was appointed on a permanent basis in May 2006. A 20-year-old businessman has beaten Tyson Fury to buy Morecambe and will become England's youngest football club owner.. Sarbjot Johal's takeover of the League One side remains subject to Football League approval but has been confirmed by the club's chairman Graham Howse, as per the Daily Mail.He had been in competition with Fury to buy Morecambe, with the heavyweight world champion boxer . The decision to allow Johal to take charge of the club has come under scrutiny, with the Lancaster Guardian reporting that Johal's businesses - Vitanic Limited and Lovely Drinks - do not have adequate funding for such a deal. Sarbjot Johal. [6] The Shrimps compounded this result with another upset win over a Championship side, a 31 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 28 August to advance into the third round of the League Cup, in which they faced a third consecutive Championship side, Sheffield United. 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Founded 1920 Address Lancaster Road LA4 5TJ Morecambe, Lancashire Country England Phone +44 (1524) 411 797 Fax +44 (1524) 832 230 E-mail shrimps@morecambefc.com During the 201617 season, Bentley received a two-match touchline ban and was fined 1,000, though Morecambe fans paid the fine.[9]. Also during this time, the club also equalled its best appearance in the FA Cup in both 200001 and 200203. ", Related Story:Morecambe FC co-owners' rugby club woes will have "no impact" on Shrimps - Beyond Radio. Bill will always be a welcome visitor to Sixways," he added in a statement. Sponsors @InvestecWin Morecambe is probably going to break even now and will be one of four clubs. A takeover of League One side Morecambe FC could be near, according to the club's co-chairman, Graham Howse. Mr Goldring and Mr Whittingham also own the Premiership rugby union club Worcester Warriors, which has been hit by a winding-up petition by the HMRC and has been at the centre of a row over unpaid wages. We look back with pride at what the Club has become in the years of our ownership it doesnt feel like four-and-a-half years since when we took over with one game left of the season and the Clubs future in the EFL uncertain. [17], In June 2021, the club announced that former Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson would take over as manager for the club's first season in League One. Starting in the early 1990s, Morecambe have been engaged in a bitter rivalry with Lancashire neighbours Accrington Stanley. [8] His first game as a professional manager was a 10 defeat at home to Barnet. A Morecambe supporters group said they have met with a businessman who wants to buy the club to raise their "concerns". A hospital cafe in Morecambe which was due to permanently close has been given a reprieve and will now be reopening. A public consultation has been launched on plans to build a link road between South Lancaster and the M6. Morecambe insist the two clubs have no connections, beyond the owners. It's a decision that is likely to raise eyebrows across the divisions, with Johal set to become the youngest football club owner in the country in the process. I started off in litigation law and moved on to doing supercar contracts and working in Monaco and Switzerland. We were introduced to the Warriors deal and we saw parallel opportunities. It was never about making fortunes out of the football club, it was about making the club sustainable so it is there in 50 years time. He established his first company in construction, aged 15. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. WORCESTER Warriors co-owners revealed they expressed their interest in purchasing the Gallagher Premiership club prior to taking over Morecambe. A Gannett Company. The MP for Lancaster and the children from TV's Radford family were among those who dressed up to mark World Book Day. On both occasions the club faced Ipswich Town, losing 30 and 40 respectively. Christie is now a regular at The Globe Arena, having reappeared after being stolen following the last game at Christie Park. Mr Johal has already bought equity in the club, which has been up for sale since autumn 2022. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. In April Worcester reported a pre-tax loss of 8.1m for the 2016-17 season - the losses came after the club reported a pre-tax profit of 14.3m a year before after the club's owners wrote off loans worth 20.4m. All information about Morecambe FC (League One) current squad with market values transfers rumours player stats fixtures news The EFLs owner vetting process is absolutely non existent. We arent in a rush to sell and will make sure we take the time to find the right buyer with the right ambition for the future of the Club. Mr Johal has been a guest of the club at a number of the Shrimps' home games recently. The Shrimps slipped to a narrow defeat against Cambridge United at the Mazuma Stadium in Sky Bet League One. MORECAMBE FOOTBALL CLUB badge - Link to home. 200910 was Morecambe's last season at Christie Park. We were trying to sort out the mess (at Morecambe) when Warriors was offered to us, Goldring said. "I agreed to stay on while the acquisition has taken place," said Bolsover. World heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson Fury, who lives in the town, said he had been offered the chance to buy the club in October. The highest earning player in the squad is Liam Shaw earning 4,000 per week. Theres an appeal for volunteers to help repair a popular Lancaster green space after it was vandalised. He once had an infamous friendly altercation with Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper Tony Roberts for which Christie was sent off, even though the dispute had been started by Roberts. Following a 32 aggregate win over Tranmere Rovers in the semi-final,[14] the club confirmed a spot in the League Two play-off Final for the first time in their history, where they faced Newport County. Comments have been closed on this article. Jason Whittingham talks to supporters as Colin Goldring watches on. But we confirmed we wanted to buy Warriors before we even bought Morecambe. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The Board functions exceptionally well, almost independently of Bond Group as owner of the Club after the Covid-19 lockdown, and they have our absolute trust. The club contests rivalries with nearby Accrington Stanley and formerly with non-league neighbours Lancaster City, along with other Lancashire clubs. Man Utd takeover bids expected next week - but Glazer family still won't be happy, Journalist who Jurgen Klopp snapped at clarifies why Liverpool boss was unhappy, Gabby Agbonlahor wants Casemiro 'arrested' and disciplined by Man Utd for red card, Sarbjot Johal has beaten Tyson Fury to buy Morecambe. A hospital cafe in Morecambe which was due to permanently close has been given a reprieve and will now be reopening. The seated area is in the south stand. After his first nine games in charge, Morecambe sat top of the league after winning six, drawing two and losing just once. [22] Despite the club flirting with relegation, Adams once again managed to lead them out of the drop zone, with the Shrimps finishing 19th and securing League One status for a second consecutive season. The Shrimps Trust met with Sarbjot Johal, who is aiming to take over the football club, on Monday. The Club is self-funding and is well managed thanks to the great work by the staff and the exceptional support of the fans, who are the lifeblood and beating heart of any club. It took ten years for the club to reach its ambition of promotion to the Football Conference after many further improvements, not only to the ground but also to the club's structure. They stole from those that trusted them the most. Sarbjot Johal is eager to start the project to take the Club on to a new level, subject to satisfactorily navigating the EFL Owners and Directors test. Runners-up spot was claimed on one occasion and the play-offs places were narrowly missed twice. Fire officers have tackled a car fire near a motorway junction in Lancaster. Theres an appeal for volunteers to help repair a popular Lancaster green space after it was vandalised. They finished in the top ten of League Two twice, reaching the play-off semi-finals after fourth-place finishes in 200910 and 202021; in the latter season they reached the 2021 League Two play-off Final and achieved a first promotion to League One. "Now, the Club is sustainable in League One, having done a great job of staying up last season with Derek Adams back at the helm. Morecambe Football Club has announced that its owners are preparing the club for sale. Then after the retail crash in 2008 I was made redundant, became a consultant and ended up getting a job for the UKs largest pawnbroker which is where I met Peter Kelly (Warriors operations director). Therefore I believe that it is the right time for me to step down as chairman.". Speaking to talkSPORT in October 2022, Fury - who owns all of the training facilities at the League One club - revealed that he had been offered the chance to buy the club: "Ive been offered to buy Morecambe Football Club. Bond Group will continue to own and support the board as the majority shareholder until the club is sold. This is being done while we prepare the Club for sale and want to ensure that the Club is ready for the transition from our time as owners. Top 5 live events. Morecambe played their first game in the Football League against Barnet at Christie Park in August 2007, in which they played out a 00 draw to secure their first ever Football League point. In a statement on August 22, they said:"Our finances are independent, as are our budgets. The owner of a popular local Mexican food chain says the closure of their Morecambe restaurant is likely but not definite. A medical student from Lancaster University has won a major accolade from the Royal Society of Medicine. But the latest update indicates that drinks tycoon Johal is likely to emerge as the new owner. "Sarbjot is keen to maintain a close relationship with supporters if his application is successful, and build on our community foundations. The Shrimps host Port Vale at the Mazuma Stadium on Tuesday 21 February, 19:45 KO. "Sarbjot told us of his ambitions for the club, subject to approval from the EFL, which are aspiring and would involve significant investment both on the pitch and off it. I was the youngest at my firm at the time. Sarbjot Johal is eager to start the project to take the club on to a new level, subject to satisfactorily navigating the EFL Owners and Directors test. The decision was announced by Shrimps co-chairman Graham Howse in a statement posted to the club's official website: "It is fair to say the sale process hasnt progressed as quickly as we all would have liked - that said, my understanding is that exciting times are ahead both on and off the pitch. However, on his first day back as manager of Morecambe, Harvey was sacked by the club and McIlroy was appointed as permanent manager with Mark Lillis as his assistant. However, inconsistent performances once again resulted in them slipping into mid-table. Lima Major: Bracket - Lower Bracket; MLB Spring Training: Boston . Under the stewardship of Jim Harvey, a second-place finish in the 199495 Northern Premier League Premier Division season saw them promoted into the Conference. Having been beaten in the 2003 and 2006 play-off semi-finals, Sammy McIlroy led the club to promotion into the Football League with victory in the 2007 play-off Final. The Club is self-funding and is well managed thanks to the great work by the staff and the exceptional support of the fans, who are the lifeblood and beating heart of any club. A 20-year-old businessman has beaten Tyson Fury to buy Morecambe and will become England's youngest football club owner. Chief Executive Officer: Mr Ben Sadler Football Staff First-team Manager: Derek Adams First-team Assistant Manager: John McMahon Goalkeeper Coach: Barry Roche You can use JustWatch to find which streaming services are showing highlights, full replays and interviews for this event. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. We do not owe Worcester Warriors any monies and the only shared position is that we have owners in common. Bentley left the club in October 2019 to take the manager's role at AFC Fylde, having spent 16 months as the longest serving manager in the top four tiers of English football. It wasnt like we were football guys coming into it whereas perhaps Jed was as he has a long history in football. This included an FA Cup third round appearance in 196162, a 10 defeat to Weymouth; a Lancashire Senior Cup Final victory in 1968, a 21 win over Burnley;[2] and an FA Trophy success at Wembley in 1974, a 21 win over Dartford in the final. The club then took its place in the Lancashire Combination League for the 192021 season. New river terminal announced as part of regions burgeoning Games developer and publisher adds to its stable with latest City round-up: HSS Hire; Victorian Plumbing; Eddisons; Immotion Group, Liverpool City Council unveils its new chief executive. Picture: GEOFF BERKELEY. With only two turnstiles for the travelling fans to enter via there is a big crowd waiting to get through. A Morecambe supporters group said they have met with a businessman who wants to buy the club to raise their "concerns". . We look back with pride at what the club has become in the years of our ownership it doesnt feel like four-and-a-half years since when we took over with one game left of the season and the club's future in the EFL uncertain. He is currently awaiting the result of checks by the English Football League (EFL) before he looks to complete his takeover of the Shrimps. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. On 31 May 2021, Morecambe beat Newport County 10 in the 2021 League Two play-off Final at Wembley Stadium after Carlos Mendes Gomes converted a penalty in the 107th minute, earning the Shrimps promotion to League One, the third tier of English football, for the first time in their history. On 10 August 2010, Morecambe played their first match at the Globe Arena against Championship side Coventry City in the League Cup First Round. Friends of a man who went missing from Lancaster more than two months ago will gather in the area where he disappeared to help with the search for him.