Sixth-tier team set to become first club censured by Independent Football Regulator | OneFootball

Morecambe are poised to become the first club to face formal censure from the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), marking a significant moment for the newly established body.

The action stems from the club's failure to provide crucial information to the regulator in a timely manner earlier this year.

The censure statement is expected to be issued against the club, despite their recent relegation to the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, which places them outside the IFR’s current jurisdiction.

The club's owners, Kuljit Singh Momi and Harjit Singh, listed as officers of Panjab Warriors – the entity that acquired Morecambe last August during its administration – are also set to receive a censure.

The IFR announced its intention to issue these statements in a warning notice published on its website on Wednesday. This decision is pending any representations from the club or its owners, which must be submitted by 28 July.

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Morecambe were relegated to the sixth tier of English football last season (Getty)

The regulator initially sought information on 20 February, essential for establishing and overseeing its owners, directors and senior executives (ODSE) regime. Morecambe were given a month to respond but failed to do so, or to request an extension.

A subsequent request for financial information, reiterating the 20 February demand, was made on 31 March. While a response was received in April, the IFR deemed it inadequate. Further details were provided by the club on 16 June, but the warning notice indicated that "several questions [remained] unanswered”.

Despite the procedural breaches, the offence is considered to be at the lowest level of seriousness, partly because the club’s relegation means the IFR no longer requires the specific ODSE information initially requested.

The IFR was formally established under the Football Governance Act, which received Royal Assent last July. Its creation was a direct response to critical issues within English football, including the collapse of Bury FC in 2019 and the controversial European Super League proposal in 2021.

The regulator's primary objective is to safeguard the financial stability of clubs across the top five tiers of English football, with all eligible clubs mandated to secure a provisional license from the IFR by the start of the 2027-28 season.