The independent football regulator has sent a warning notice to Morecambe because the club's owners did not provide responses to inquiries about how the club is operated.

This marks the initial instance where the IFR has acted following the passage of the Football Governance Act into legislation one year earlier.

Morecambe directors Kuljit Singh and Harjit Singh did not reply to a pair of information requests made under section 65 of the Act.

"The IFR has issued a warning notice to Morecambe Football Club Limited and to the club's two owners," stated an IFR announcement.

"It has been provisionally determined that the owners breached information requirements imposed upon them without reasonable excuse and, in accordance with the Football Governance Act, the IFR is therefore minded to issue a censure statement against these individuals and the club."

A censure statement allows the IFR to publicly identify football clubs, owners, directors or senior executives who do not comply with licensing standards.

Additional authorities encompass financial sanctions, court orders requiring adherence and suspension or cancellation of a club's operating licence.

The IFR's authority covers clubs in the National League.

Even though Morecambe dropped to National League North in the previous season, the IFR retains the ability to apply its rules.

Morecambe were acquired from administration last August by the Panjab Warriors consortium.

Yet, in March the club faced a transfer embargo due to a contested payment owed to former owners Bond Group Investments. The embargo was removed by the close of the month.

During that same month Morecambe received a winding-up petition related to unpaid supplier bills, which was later settled.