Pitch battle for Morecambe FC's new owners

The gym and pitches have been advertised as being for sale, raising hopes the club could purchase them in order for Jim Bentley’s squad to have a training base of its own.

They were owned by PMG Leisure Ltd before that company went into administration at the start of last year.

However, the Shrimps’ new majority shareholders have warned they will not be held to ransom in terms of the asking price.

“We are in talks with the administrators to take back that land at the back,” Jason Whittingham told supporters at Wednesday’s fans forum.

“It was purchased by a company but we had meetings with those guys five or six days ago.

“They are difficult and demanding but we are in negotiations - it’s part of the future plans to take it back.

“At the moment, we’re having this stand-off where they want this much and we will pay that much but we’re very keen to engage with them and it’s us who approached them.

“We’re going to keep it as a training site; we’re avid supporters of the academy and our intention is to bring it back as a training facility.”

“The club and us have no control over that land; the administrators put it up for sale,” added Mr Whittingham’s fellow majority shareholder, Colin Goldring.

“We want that land to be used for the club, whether it’s used for training or the academy is down to Jim (Bentley, Morecambe manager).

“The whole intention is to purchase that land but it won’t be at any cost.”