The English Football League has docked three points from Morecambe for failing to comply with an agreed-upon judgement made in August 2023 after the club failed to pay its players on time.
The League Two team was issued a suspended three-point deduction at the time, which has now been activated.
The Shrimps have dropped from 12th to 14th, and their slender play-off aspirations are now all but dead.
Jason Whittingham, the owner, has also received a £10,000 fine.
That money is due immediately, and Whittingham has been issued a suspended fine of £20,000, which will be activated on May 31, 2024, unless he fully complies with his commitment to replenish the deposit account under the provisions of the agreed-upon judgement of August 17, 2023.
In August last year, Whittingham was required to deposit 125% of their monthly wage bill to cover any future delays.
The EFL alleged that the deposited monies were utilised the next month without being redeposited, and they were charged in December.
In a statement, the club stated that “the board expresses their significant disappointment at the outcome of the hearing”.
