Morecambe suspended from the National League

Morecambe have been suspended from the National League with immediate effect and will not play in the division during the first weeks of the new season.

The Lancashire club were given a deadline of midday on Monday by the league surrounding their compliance with its rules and were warned they would face "possible further sanctions".

The league's compliance and licensing committee met again to discuss the club's response and has now suspended Morecambe until it meets again on 20 August.

"It was decided further sanctions must be imposed, with the club's membership to be suspended with immediate effect," a National League statement said.

It added: "The club will also remain under embargo ahead of the new season."

"Morecambe Football Club will also be removed from the National League Cup for the forthcoming season.

"The committee will meet again on Wednesday, August 20 to determine if outstanding items have been satisfied, and to decide the club's ability to retain membership in the competition."

That means Morecambe's fixture away to Boston United on 9 August, their first home game against Brackley Town on 16 August, and the trip to Scunthorpe United on 19 August, will no longer take place.

Morecambe were relegated from League Two last season - their second relegation in the past three seasons - and have faced a beleaguered summer.

Owner Jason Whittingham put the club up for sale in 2022 but a deal has still not been done.

London-based sports investment company Panjab Warriors have been in talks to buy the Shrimps for over a year, and a deal appeared to have been accepted but has still not been completed.

He announced that a new buyer, named as a consortium led by Jonny Cato, had been found earlier in July, but it remains unclear where that bid also stands.

Whittingham said on Sunday that he had "not heard from" Panjab Warriors in the past week and that talks with Cato were ongoing.