Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has insisted that football clubs teetering on the brink of collapse — including Sheffield Wednesday and Morecambe — can still be rescued, as she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the future of the English football pyramid.

Both clubs have endured a turbulent summer marred by financial instability, unpaid wages, registration embargoes, and, in Morecambe’s case, suspension from the National League. Amid growing concern over governance standards in the game, Nandy stressed that the forthcoming independent football regulator, passed into law in July, would provide crucial protections once operational later this year.

“These clubs belong to their fans. They are nothing without their fans and we are on their side and we will always fight for them,” Nandy told BBC Breakfast.

“Nobody should have to go through this. When Bury collapsed, we were absolutely clear that that had to be the last time that ever happened. It’s happened to far too many people since.”

Bury FC were expelled from the English Football League in 2019 following a failed takeover. The example has since become a case study in football mismanagement and the emotional cost to local communities.

Nandy, who supports Wigan Athletic, pointed to her own club’s dramatic financial struggles in 2021 as proof that survival is possible even in the bleakest circumstances.

“Wigan went right to the wire. We were within hours of HMRC pulling the plug. Taxes hadn’t been paid, players were about to walk, and wages hadn’t been paid — but we managed a resolution at the final hour.

“So I’ve told fans and local MPs: do not give up.”

Crisis at Morecambe and Sheffield Wednesday

Morecambe, now in the National League after two relegations in three seasons, remain suspended due to failure to comply with league rules. A long-delayed takeover has yet to materialise since the club was put up for sale in 2022 by owners Bond Group. Last week, Nandy wrote an open letter to owner Jason Whittingham, urging him to finalise a sale to ensure the club’s future.

In a show of solidarity, Bury have offered free entry to Morecambe fans for their opening match of the new season this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday’s situation has grown increasingly precarious. The Owls, owned by Dejphon Chansiri, have reportedly lost £178 million since 2015, are under a transfer embargo, and had their North Stand closed due to structural issues. Their manager Danny Rohl left in July by mutual consent, and a recent pre-season friendly was cancelled when players refused to take the pitch.

Despite the chaos, the club is still expected to fulfil their opening Championship fixture against Leicester City on Sunday.

Regulator Could Force Sales, Empower Fans

The new football regulator, when launched, will have powers to intervene in cases like these, including the ability to force sales where clubs are at risk of collapse.

“In the case of Morecambe, [the regulator] would definitely make a difference,” Nandy told Radio 4’s Today programme. “There are powers for the regulator to be able to force owners to sell in circumstances where [a club] would otherwise be lost.”

“In the case of Sheffield Wednesday… legislation gives fans much greater power over the direction of their own club.”

While the regulator is not yet operational, Nandy emphasised that its establishment is being prioritised.

“I don’t want to sugar-coat this — people have already suffered. Bury is an example where fans lost everything due to poor ownership.

“That’s why there is such a need for the legislation we’ve just passed. We are working at pace to get the regulator up and running.

“This is personal for me, and we’re going to make sure it happens.”