MORECAMBE have been hit with a three-point deduction with just three games remaining of the season.
The League Two club, loved by heavyweight boxing hero Tyson Fury, has been punished by the FA for “failing to adhere to the terms of an agreed decision”.
Morecambe had previously received a suspended three-point deduction last season following failure to pay its player wages in March 2023.
And that suspended punishment has now been activated after the club failed to keep an account with 125 per cent of the forecast monthly wage bill for its players at a required pre-agreed level.
The FA released a statement detailing the punishment which has also seen the club’s owner Jason Whittingham handed a £10,000 fine.
The statement read: “An independent Disciplinary Commission (IDC) has determined that Morecambe Football Club are to be deducted three points from the 2023/24 League Two table for failing to adhere to the terms of an Agreed Decision.
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“The Club had previously received a three-point deduction, to be suspended until 30 June 2024, after admitting a breach of EFL Regulations for failing to pay its player wages on or around 28 March 2023.
“The Club’s ultimate beneficial owner was also required to deposit an amount equal to 125% of the forecast monthly wage bill in a designated Club account.
“Following the failure to keep the account at the required levels, the suspended three-point deduction has now been activated.
“Owner Mr Jason Whittingham has also been fined £10,000, payable immediately, whilst a suspended fine of £20,000 has also been imposed, to be activated on 31 May 2024.
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“Unless he complies in full with his obligation to replenish the Deposit Account under the terms of the Agreed Decision dated 17 August 2023.”
Morecambe reiterated the disciplinary action on their own website and added a short one-line statement that read: “The Club’s Board express their significant disappointment at the outcome of the hearing.”
The Shrimps’ deduction sees them drop from 12th place on 60 points down to 14th on 57 points.
It means they slip eight points away from the play-off places putting a late surge for an immediate return to League One virtually out of the question.
However relegation isn’t a concern with Morecambe already mathematically safe from the drop.
The financial mismanagement of the club may peak the interest of Tyson Fury, who has previously expressed an interest in buying the historic outfit.
The Gypsy King, who lives by Morecambe Bay, is known to love the club and once revealed his desire to purchase The Shrimps when speaking to TalkSPORT.
Back in 2023, before the club’s relegation to League Two, he said: “I’m thinking about buying Morecambe Football Club.
“They’re in League One at the moment. So I was thinking I invest X amount of millions in them. Basically, throw it at them and keep them going up.
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“I’ve been offered to buy Morecambe Football Club. I own all the training facilities anyway and the training gym. So, who knows? You might be looking at a football club owner.”
For now Fury will have his attention locked on his undisputed heavyweight bout with Oleksandr Usyk next month.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
