I WAS at Wembley four years ago as Morecambe enjoyed the proudest moment in their history — promotion to League One.
And they spent two seasons competing in the third tier, which was their highest level.
But, unbeknownst to everyone, it set off a ticking timebomb that has led to their 105-year existence being under threat.
Competing in a division with huge clubs like Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday, they had to stretch their finances.
But they still had one of the lowest budgets and, ultimately, did not stand a chance.
Until two years ago, the Shrimps had NEVER suffered relegation in their history.
They spent the first 48 years in the Lancashire Combination, then 27 years in the Northern League Premier before 12 more in the Conference.
Morecambe won promotion to the EFL in 2007 and spent 14 years in League Two before that historic day at Wembley.
Now this proud club have not only suffered TWO relegations but could cease to exist in just over a fortnight.
National League chiefs have already suspended them from the competition — just like the EFL did to Bury in League One before expelling them in 2019.
I’ve been told by a well-placed Shrimps insider that if they are not sold by this FRIDAY, the death knell will shortly be sounded on this historic club.
Most probably on August 20 when the National League meet to decide the club’s fate.
As things stand, the club only have FOUR senior players. Whoever takes over will have just five days to sign another 12 to meet the minimum National League requirement of 16.
Jason Whittingham’s Bond Group Investments — their owners — have had two offers to buy the club from Panjab Warriors and a consortium led by businessman Jonny Cato.
It would be a disgrace if he failed to agree a sale, given he says he no longer has the cash to fund the Shrimps.
The club belongs to the town, community and fans — not him.
All this brings into sharp focus how a football club can implode when owners try to break through their glass ceiling and show ambition.
The pyramid system is wonderful when you see clubs like Brentford and Luton reach the Premier League.
But then you see what happened to the likes of Bury, Macclesfield and now — possibly — Morecambe.
Last season, the Shrimps travelled to Chelsea in the FA Cup. The Blues went on to win the Conference League, secure Champions League football and lift the Club World Cup.
And Chelsea made around £85MILLION from the summer tournament in the States. That is 50 TIMES Morecambe’s wage bill last season.
It seems outrageous while the Prem elites keep coining it in, small lower-league clubs are in danger of going bust.
Top-flight toffs have looked down their noses at EFL paupers for years.
The money they filter into the lower leagues is chicken feed compared to the huge amounts relegated teams get in parachute payments — creating a ridiculously unlevel playing field.
They argue fewer top-flight clubs will be able to try to compete with giants Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea if the parachute payments are not in place.
And this is why the football regulator cannot come soon enough — although I fear that it will not be in time for Morecambe.
Surely one of the first things the regulator should do is to help pave the way for clubs in League One and Two to be able to install 4G pitches — enabling them to raise much-needed revenue.
Morecambe would almost certainly not be in trouble if they had one at their stadium.
It was ridiculous that Sutton United had to rip up their highly successful 4G pitch at Gander Green Lane to enable them to get promoted in 2021.
How absurd that when lower-league clubs are struggling enough, there is this stupid rule to cut off a money-maker.
It is not like these pitches are those awful plastic ones they had at Oldham’s Boundary Park and Luton’s Kenilworth Road back in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Let’s hope that the current owners, Jason Whittingham’s Bond Investment Group, regain control of their senses and sell up to one of the two interested buyers this week.
Or the town’s most famous resident, former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, weighs in and saves the club.
As the town’s most famous son Eric Morecambe famously sang: “Bring me Sunshine.”
It is time for that big ball of fire in the sky to start shining brightly on great little football clubs like this.
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