Ted

What’s happening to Morecambe is a disgrace. Terrible owner, unpaid wages, only 10 senior players, pre-season games cancelled, first three NL games postponed, expulsion a possibility, club’s 105-year existence in grave doubt. Huge credit to their fans like Shrimps Trust and players like Tom White who’ve fought on in such challenging circumstances. Morecambe’s owner, Jason Whittingham, is primarily culpable for this mess/impasse. He needs to sell but hasn’t. Authorities have let this situation drift despite constant alarms raised by fans. Echoes of what befell Bury. Morecambe’s plight is also echoed elsewhere with unfit owners damaging certain clubs and the national game. If we tolerate this, another club could be next. Is Whittingham a fit and proper owner? Clearly not. Would others like him get through even a tightened Owners’ and Directors’ Test? Possibly. Even if they pass are the checks on their financial viability frequent enough? At least with the Independent Football Regulator coming in there will be more robust and regular checks. And much needed.  But will the IFR, the fans’ friend, this new body to protect clubs from unfit owners, be too late for Morecambe? Fans meeting @shrimpstrust agm Thursday. Good luck to them. Like Tom White, they’re fighting hard to keep Morecambe alive. Football needs more people like them - and less like Whittingham. #Shrimps 🦐