[themaclad]

Morecambe have signed midfielder Nelson Khumbeni from Bolton Wanderers with Nottingham Forest's Julian Larsson also joining him on loan for the season.

Khumbeni, 21, came through Norwich's academy and went on to join Bolton in 2022 where he made his debut in the EFL Cup against Salford City.

Forward Larsson joins having yet to make a full senior Forest appearance.

"I'm delighted. When I heard about the move, I just thought straight away 'jump at it'," Khumbeni said.

Meanwhile, manager Ged Brennan said of Larsson: "He's quick, he's direct, you can either put him out wide and cut him inside or you can play him off the nine or as a nine, so he can play anywhere right across the front which is beneficial to us straight away.

"He's very direct, a great finisher and has an eye for goal."

[themaclad]

Morecambe have signed forward Jordy Hiwula on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old previously played for Coventry City, Portsmouth and Doncaster and went on to join Ross County, where he spent last season.

Hiwula has been without a club since his release in September.

"I feel this is a perfect opportunity for me to come and play the remaining games of the season, hopefully we can do something special," he said.

"There's a really good bunch of lads here, everyone has been welcoming as well so I've enjoyed it so far.

"[The fans can] expect hard work, determination and an eye for goal as well, I'll always give 100% for the team."

[themaclad]

Charlie Brown has signed an extension to his Morecambe contract until the summer of 2025.

The 24-year-old forward moved to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium after being released by Cheltenham last summer.

Chelsea youth product Brown has scored four goals in 17 games for the Shrimps and his new deal has an option for a further year.

"He's taken his chance with both hands and has been brilliant," Morecambe boss Ged Brannan told the club website.

"He's a great lad, great around the changing room and great around the other players. He knows the way we want to play, he's a bright player, clever, loads of movement off the ball which is the way we want our forwards to play."

Brown, who also had a spell with MK Dons before joining Morecambe from the Robins ahead of this season, said Brannan had "shown a lot of faith and trust" in him and was "glad my hard work and performances on the pitch have earned me a new deal".

"I can go out and play with freedom and just enjoy it now.

"I'm loving my football at the minute and I'm excited about the end of this season and next."

[themaclad]

Morecambe have been deducted three points by the English Football League for failing to adhere to an agreed decision imposed in August 2023 after the club failed to pay players on time.

The League Two side were given a suspended three-point deduction at the time and that has now been activated.

The Shrimps slip from 12th to 14th and their slim play-off hopes are now all-but over.

Owner Jason Whittingham has also been fined £10,000.

That amount is payable immediately and Whittingham has also been given a suspended fine of £20,000 to be activated on 31 May 2024, unless he complies in full with his obligation to replenish the deposit account under the terms of the agreed decision dated 17 August 2023.

Whittingham had been told to deposit an amount equal to 125% of their monthly wage bill to cover any future delays in August last year.

The EFL stated that the following month the deposited funds had been used without being re-deposited however, and they were charged in December.

The club said in a statement that "the board express their significant disappointment at the outcome of the hearing".

[themaclad]

Gwion Edwards and Stuart Moore have signed new contracts with Morecambe.

Former Ipswich Town winger Edwards, who joined the Shrimps in January, has agreed a two-year deal after making 22 appearances and scoring three goals in League Two this season.

First-choice goalkeeper Moore, 29, whose season was ended by injury in October, has signed up for next season with an option for a one-year extension.

Edwards, 31, was injured during a loan spell at Ross County last April, and his recovery took him beyond the end of his contract with Wigan Athletic. He spent the next nine months recovering before landing a short-term deal with Morecambe.

'Itching to come back'
He told the Morecambe website, external: "It took a bit of time to build up the load in the legs with the games we had, but I think from March onwards, I really found my form and was playing well.

"I'd been out injured for nine months, so I was itching to get back playing. Ending up at Morecambe, it fitted in nicely and... when I was offered a new deal, getting it sorted as soon as possible was my main focus."

Morecambe are facing serious difficulties with the club up for sale and subject to a transfer embargo. They are also without a manager after Ged Brannan left and were deducted three points in April for failure to pay player wages in time.

It was revealed last week that striker Charlie Brown was the only current senior player under contract, but Edwards is believed to be the first to sign from a number of squad members who were offered new deals.

[themaclad]

Troubled Morecambe have announced the departures of 16 players at the end of their League Two season.

They finished in 15th, but were deducted three points for failing to pay their players on time last August.

Since the end of the campaign, manager Ged Brannan has departed to become the number two at Accrington Stanley.

This latest development leaves the managerless club with a current squad of just five first-team players.

'While there is no chief executive at the Mazuma Stadium, with Ben Sadler leaving to take up the same post at Walsall.

Of the 16 players to exit the Shrimps, 12 were not offered new terms, while four players rejected new deals.

One of those to turn down a deal is captain Farrend Rawson, who has been an outspoken critic of the club's owner, Jason Whittingham.

Only one player - Charlie Brown - was under contract after the season with Gwion Edwards and Stuart Moore since agreeing new deals.

An extension has been triggered for Kayden Harrack and a first professional contract given to forward Saul Fox-Akande, while the club are waiting to hear if midfielder JJ McKiernan accepts his offer.

Players being released: Adam Smith, Jacob Bedeau, Chris Stokes, Max Melbourne, Oscar Threlkeld, Jacob Davenport, Yann Songo’o, Jake Taylor, Brandon Barker, Cammy Smith, Jordy Hiwula, Jordan Slew.

Players to reject a new contract: Farrend Rawson, David Tutonda, Donald Love, Joel Senior.

[themaclad]

Morecambe have had their transfer embargo lifted by the English Football League but must pay a fine of £5,131.82 for failing to meet their payment obligations.

The League Two side were placed under a registration embargo in March over non-payment of a VAT bill and were deducted three points in April for failing to stick to an agreement with the EFL earlier in the season linked to the late payment of players.

They were subsequently fined in June and given restrictions for the next three transfer windows.

However, the club, which has been up for sale since September 2022, appealed against the ruling and an independent disciplinary commission ruled in their favour while upholding the fine.

Their transfer restriction has been suspended for two years and reduced to one window.

The Shrimps, who finished 15th in League Two last season, are now able to register new players for the forthcoming campaign.

They said in a statement: "All parties recognised the exceptional circumstances, and evidence provided by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs confirmed that Morecambe Football Club had done nothing wrong under HMRC guidelines.

"HMRC raised an assessment against the club regarding a change in treatment by them of a supplier's invoices, raised and paid in good faith.

"This change came months after the submission of the normal VAT return, and due to the size of the sum and its impact on cashflow, a 'time-to-pay' agreement was reached between the club and HMRC.

"EFL rules are clear on the treatment of time-to-pay agreements, but due consideration was given by all, resulting in a reduction in the original sanction.

"Morecambe Football Club has this week, in accordance with the time-to-pay agreement with HMRC, fully settled its liabilities."

[themaclad]

League Two side Morecambe have announced the signings of 15 players after their EFL registration embargo was lifted on Thursday.

The Shrimps were placed in an embargo in March over non-payment of a VAT bill but they have subsequently settled the amount with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

Goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne, defenders Luke Hendrie, Ross Millen, Max Taylor, Jamie Stott, David Tutonda, Adam Lewis, George Ray, midfielders Tom White, Paul Lewis and Yann Songo’o and strikers Jordan Slew, Hallam Hope and Ben Tollitt have all signed one-year deals.

Hull City midfielder Callum Jones, 23, has also joined on a season-long loan deal.

Former Wolves goalkeeper Burgoyne, 27, was released by Shrewsbury earlier this summer, while Adam Lewis, 24, was a free agent after leaving Liverpool.

Ray, 30, made 45 appearances for Barrow in 2023-24 as they just missed out on a play-off spot and Millen, 24, helped Raith finish second in the Scottish Championship.

Hendrie, 29 comes in after leaving Bradford with Taylor, 24 and Stott, 26, departing National League sides Rochdale and Halifax respectively.

Tutonda, 28, is one of three players, along with Songo'o, 32, and Slew, 31, who played for the Shrimps last season to be returning.

White, 27, also left Barrow earlier this summer and Paul Lewis, 29, was with Tranmere last season.

Hope, 30, started his career with Everton and spent the past three seasons with Oldham, the same club that Tollitt, 29, was released by at the end of 2023-24.

The 15 new additions join existing first team players goalkeeper Stuart Moore, 29, defender Kayden Harrack, 20, midfielders Gwion Edwards, 31, and Saul Fox-Akande, 17, and forward Charlie Brown, 24, at the Shrimps for the 2024-25 campaign.

Morecambe start the new season with a trip to Walsall on Saturday, 10 August.

[themaclad]

Morecambe have confirmed the signing of midfielder Harvey Macadam from Fleetwood Town.

Macadam, 23, joins for an undisclosed fee with a sell-on clause on a one-year deal, with the option of another year.

He played 43 times for Fleetwood in two-and-a-half years but is now looking forward to life with the Shrimps.

Burnley-born Macadam is the latest in a string of signings at the League Two club after their EFL transfer embargo was lifted last week.

“I’m absolutely buzzing to get it over the line, I’m really excited," he said.

"The gaffer has brought loads of new players in, and I’m delighted to be one of them.

“It’s going to be a massive year for us so pre-season is hugely important to build our minutes up and make sure we’re raring to go.

“I’m an energetic box-to-box midfield player, I’ll leave blood, sweat and tears on the shirt every time. I’ll give it my all and offer a bit of quality on the ball to create chances for our attacking players.”

[themaclad]

Morecambe have signed former Sutton United forward Lee Angol on a one-year deal ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 League Two season.

The 29-year-old links up with Morecambe boss Derek Adams for the second time, having played under him at Bradford City.

Angol, who has also had spells with Peterborough United, Mansfield Town, Shrewsbury Town and Leyton Orient, is the club's 17th signing of the summer.

"I'm settling in well, obviously I know the gaffer and a few players; I know a lot of the boys from playing against them and it's a nice, friendly club here so I'm looking forward to it," he said., external

"For me personally, with more minutes and training, the better and fitter I'll be. The boys are already at a top level and fit as well, so hopefully I can get to their level as quickly as I can."