MORECAMBE are reeling from another huge blow as unpaid wages mean they might have to play kids in their League Two finale on Saturday.
Not even Tyson Fury‘s sponsorship has saved his local club from a string of problems this year.
The Shrimpers were docked three points earlier this month.
That came after issues with player wages led to a suspended penalty from last season being activated.
Now Morecambe have released a lengthy statement saying owner Jason Whittingham has broken “repeated” pledges to pay salaries in April.
The Shrimpers promised to field some sort of line-up at Swindon this weekend but confirmed “a number of first-team players have expressed concerns” about taking part.
Fears overs Morecambe’s long-term situation have grown amongst supporters.
And former soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling led a chorus of sympathy.
Stelling, a fan of National League side Hartlepool, posted on X: “Another set of players going unpaid. These guys don’t earn the big bucks.
“Even delaying salaries can cause huge difficulties. I hope it gets sorted but it is of course part of a much bigger issue.
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Fortunately for League Two rivals, both the Shrimpers and their weekend hosts Swindon are sitting harmlessly in lower mid-table.
Instead, there’s a scramble way above them for the play-off spots.
And at the bottom Sutton hope to pull off an unlikely great escape – with Forest Green Rovers already doomed.
Meanwhile, Fury has insisted he has no plans to leave the seaside town.
The heavyweight legend, who also supports Manchester United, lives in a five-bed, four-bathroom home overlooking Morecambe Bay.
Here's how the Shrimpers' directors revealed the club's latest problem.
The Club was expecting to pay its players and staff today, Friday 26th April 2024, ahead of the normal due date of the 28th of the month.
We appreciate that, despite pay not yet being contractually due, there was an expectation that wages would be paid today ahead of the weekend.
We also completely understand how frustrating, unsettling and demotivating that this issue is to our people, who work so hard every day.
Throughout April and this week, the Owner has repeatedly assured the Club that funding would be provided to cover wages. Unfortunately, we have not yet received this funding, making it impossible to pay salaries at this time. Nevertheless, we will continue to do all that we can to rectify this before the 28th.
Due to the uncertainty, a number of first team players have expressed concerns about playing tomorrow without having received their pay today, and we acknowledge their feelings.
Regardless, we will ensure that a team takes to the field at Swindon Town for the Club’s final game of the season.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff, players and supporters who continue to fight every day.
The Board of Directors fully understands and shares the frustrations being reasonably expressed by people who love the Club as we do.
