LEAGUE Two club Morecambe and their owner Jason Whittingham have been charged over the failure to meet the financial obligations imposed for failing to pay their players in March.

The English Football League has announced that a deposit of 125 per cent of the club’s monthly turnover has not been placed into a separate account to ensure all future wages are covered, triggering independent disciplinary proceedings.

The deposit, along with a suspended three-point deduction, was part of the agreement reached after EFL regulations were breached in March when players were paid three days late.

Whittingham was the co-owner of Premiership rugby club Worcester Warriors (alongside Colin Goldring) before the club went into administration.

“In August, funds were deposited in line with the agreement for a previous failure to pay the club’s wage bill,” an EFL statement read.

“However, on September 4 those funds were used and Whittingham failed to re-deposit the amount despite requests from the league.

“Whittingham’s failure to re-deposit the funds has led to personal charges, while the club has also been charged for failing to meet deposit account requirements.”

In response to the charges, Morecambe released the following statement: " Firstly, these are misconduct charges that have been referred by the EFL to an independent disciplinary commission to take place in the New Year.

"Bond Group (Whittingham and Goldring's company) have therefore instructed specialist sports lawyers to defend the Club's and the Owner's position at that commission.

"Secondly, the Board remains focused on the priority of ensuring that Morecambe Football Club meets all its obligations, which means working with Bond Group to prevent cashflow issues and doing everything within its powers to expedite the process of finding new ownership as quickly as possible."