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This evening, we sent a list of draft amendments for the Football Governance Bill to our local MPs, detailing what alterations can be made to try and ensure that the Independent Football Regulator is effective. Our amendments covered topics including: expansion of asset protection for stadia and training facilities, an emergency fund for clubs going through financial hardship, the Owners’ and Directors’ Test and the Golden Share, which would empower supporters to take measures against owners when required. The Bill may not impact #readingfc in the short term, but we are keen to put forward suggestions that will make a difference in the longer term. We stand with our friends at Morecambe, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town, all of whom could benefit from a strong Independent Regulator. Football has an ownership problem, but it’s a problem we can fix if fans are at the heart of the Football Governance Bill.

STATEMENT Morecambe FC stands on the brink of disaster. Relegation from the EFL is now highly likely as we sit seven points adrift from safety, and the consequences of falling out of the Football League under Jason Whittingham’s ownership could be catastrophic. We've seen this story before. Clubs such as Yeovil, Scunthorpe, Rochdale and Oldham dropped out of the EFL despite having larger budgets and more resources than we can ever hope for under Whittingham. Even with greater financial backing, none have yet managed to return to the football league. Without immediate change, Morecambe FC risks following the same path, but with an even bleaker future. Without decisive action now, here’s what awaits our club: - Whittingham will continue draining money from the club, bleeding it dry. - Our budget next season will be barely capable of mid-table in the National League at best. Realistically, we’ll be fighting another relegation battle. - Interest on Whittingham’s loans will leave nothing for growth, sustainability, or even survival. - The loss of revenue through relegation will create an even bigger financial vacuum which won't be sustainable. - Even if we retain a few players, many likely have relegation release clauses. Once again, we could be left with no squad to start next season. - If we are relegated again to the National League North, survival becomes almost impossible. Income at that level may not cover loans or even interest payments. The impact goes far beyond the first team. The 23/24 club accounts show that the club employed 88 non-football staff last year. These people work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the club running and serve our community. They are the faces behind matchday operations, community outreach, JB’s entertainment, the veterans' coffee mornings, and countless other initiatives that enrich lives in Morecambe. If Whittingham doesn’t sell, many of these jobs will be lost. Relegation and financial collapse will wipe out the community that makes Morecambe FC more than just a football club. The club’s academy setup is also at serious risk. Relegation from the EFL means losing vital funding for the academy, which helps develop the next generation of Morecambe players. Without this funding, the academy would need to be significantly scaled back or potentially shut down entirely. This would rob local young people of opportunities and destroy a key pillar of the club’s future. Once the academy is gone, it’s incredibly difficult to rebuild. Let’s be absolutely clear: this campaign is not a long-term boycott. The moment Jason Whittingham sells the club, this campaign ends. Season tickets will be renewed, tickets for home matches will be purchased, and money will flow back into the club, supporting the players and staff who have always had our backing. The power to stop this campaign lies entirely with Jason Whittingham. The decision is his: sell NOW and allow Morecambe FC to survive, or cling on until the bitter end and drag the club to its death. Whilst we won’t be attending home matches, we will be there in our numbers at away games to show our support for the management and team. As long-time supporters, we would never wish for permanent harm to Morecambe FC. We are taking a necessary stand to prevent its collapse. We strongly feel that any alternative only accelerates the inevitable. We know that some people still believe Whittingham might not take extortionate interest out of the club. They think he might have serious buyers lined up who are willing to pay his inflated asking price. But the evidence says otherwise. The truth is that Jason Whittingham is only interested in extracting as much money as he can before our club inevitably goes under. Time is running out. Unless something changes drastically, Morecambe FC will not survive. This is not about supporting or abandoning the team. It is about whether Morecambe FC has a future at all. Not a penny more. Until Jason Whittingham is gone.