After months of turmoil, unpaid wages, and uncertainty, a new dawn is breaking at Morecambe FC. The historic club, once teetering on the brink of collapse, has been rescued by Panjab Warriors, marking the first time a Sikh group has taken ownership of a professional English football club. Their arrival at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium this week has already triggered sweeping changes, fresh hope, and a flurry of activity as the Shrimps scramble to rebuild both on and off the pitch.
For over a year, Panjab Warriors pursued the acquisition of Morecambe from former owner Jason Whittingham, whose Bond Group Investments had overseen a steady decline since 2018. The club’s crisis reached a boiling point this summer, with players and staff unpaid since May and only a third of June’s wages ever reaching bank accounts. The National League responded by suspending Morecambe, postponing their first three matches of the new season and leaving fans fearing the worst.
But as of Monday, August 18, 2025, the tide turned. Panjab Warriors arrived at the stadium, immediately settling overdue wages and debts, and meeting with fans, staff, and local stakeholders to outline their vision. "A special mention to all the members of staff at Morecambe (both playing and non-playing) and to all players for showing true integrity and togetherness over the past few months during this difficult period," the new owners said in a statement. Their gratitude extended to the local community, MPs, and the Shrimps Trust, whose advocacy proved instrumental in achieving this "historic outcome."
The club’s suspension from the National League was lifted on or before August 19, 2025, and the transfer embargo was removed as soon as all outstanding football-related debts were paid. The club confirmed, "We can confirm that we have received funds from our new owners Panjab Warriors this morning to pay all outstanding wages, HMRC liabilities and all other football creditors which will all be paid by Wednesday 20th August 2025 and will be in the bank accounts of all individuals by the end of Wednesday."
With financial stability restored, Morecambe’s focus shifted rapidly to footballing matters. The most dramatic change came when respected manager Derek Adams was sacked on Monday evening, replaced by 30-year-old Ashvir Singh Johal—a UEFA pro licence holder and the UK’s first Sikh manager of a professional club. Johal, who had previously worked as a youth coach and had never managed a senior first team, now faces the daunting task of rebuilding a squad and restoring competitive spirit at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.
The backroom shake-up didn’t stop there. Danny Grainger, former Carlisle United captain and ex-Workington Reds manager, left his role as assistant manager with immediate effect. Morecambe’s statement acknowledged his contributions: "Danny brought professionalism and leadership to the team. The club would like to extend its best wishes to Danny in his next chapter of his career and expresses gratitude for his commitment to Morecambe FC." Grainger had joined the Shrimps last summer, sticking with the club through its darkest days under Bond Group’s ownership.
As the dust settled from the boardroom upheaval, attention turned to the pitch. With the National League embargo lifted, Morecambe could finally start signing players and preparing for their first match of the season—scheduled at home against Altrincham on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Staff raced to ready the stadium, print kits, and finalize logistics for the impending fixture. The club even launched a flash sale on season tickets, offering a 20% discount to fans who purchase before Friday, hoping to reignite support and bring crowds back to the stands.
Player recruitment began in earnest. Among the first arrivals was Raheem Conte, a 22-year-old midfielder formerly of Cardiff City, who traveled to Morecambe for a medical and to finalize his signing. With only a handful of players and a few young scholars on the books at the start of the week, the scale of the rebuild was clear. The club’s long-serving kit man, Les Dewhirst, faced the daunting task of preparing up to 120 sets of names and numbers for shirts as the squad rapidly expanded.
The sense of relief among staff and fans was palpable. Former co-chairman Rod Taylor, head of the Shrimps' Trust Pat Stoyles, and local MP Lizzi Collinge all welcomed the Panjab Warriors, but made it clear they would hold the new owners to account. The mood in the stadium shifted from despair to cautious optimism. As one staff member said, “After months spent worrying they would have no team to support this season, fans are looking forward to attending Morecambe matches again.”
Panjab Warriors promised to protect the club’s heritage and identity, while also modernizing its football operations. "We can now move forward and pursue our objectives of building a football operation that is on par with the best of modern standards across clubs in England," their statement read. Even with ambitions of returning to the EFL, the new owners acknowledged the challenges ahead: "Our initial aim for this season was to immediately challenge for direct promotion back to League Two but we understand that, due to the events and circumstances of the last couple of months, it will be difficult to achieve that objective this season. The priority for this season will be to ensure that we have a competitive team on the pitch and rebuild the foundations behind the scenes, and develop processes that will help us compete for promotion in the following season and beyond."
For the local community, the club’s survival means more than just football. Panjab Warriors paid tribute to the resilience and unity of Morecambe’s supporters, stating, "We understand what this club means to our local community. We will protect the heritage of Morecambe FC and preserve everything that makes the club what it is. This is a proud club with a big history and its own identity. We will make sure that that is never changed."
As the countdown to Saturday’s fixture against Altrincham continues, the sense of anticipation is building. The Shrimps are back in business—rejuvenated, ambitious, and determined to write a new chapter in their storied history. The next few days will be a whirlwind of signings, preparations, and hope as Morecambe FC prepares to reintroduce itself to the National League under new stewardship. The Mazuma Mobile Stadium is buzzing again—and for the first time in months, the future looks bright for the Shrimps.
