Former Reading winger Brandon Barker is one of 12 players released by League Two crisis club Morecambe.

The 27-year-old played four times for the Royals under Paul Ince in 2022 but failed to impress.

He has since endured tough spells in Cyprus and Morecambe, featuring twice for the Shrimpers.

Morecambe, attempting to oust owner Jason Whittingham, were docked three points last season for failing to pay players on time and finished 15th in League Two.

"The Board of Directors have published an open letter to the owner imploring Whittingham to sell.

"We are writing this open letter to reiterate what was said to you during the meeting we held with you today, during which you updated us on the critical matters of funding and the sale of the Football Club.

"Sadly, your future funding assurances have now failed to come to fruition so often that, in the absence of substantial funds from Bond Group landing in the Morecambe Football Club account, they come across as meaningless, and we must take them as such in order to be responsible.

"As for the Middle East-based potential buyer you first told us was interested in buying the Club approximately a year ago, you have provided no tangible evidence or introduction during this time to enable us to consider them serious or credible.

"You have one apparently serious offer on the table from a US-based potential buyer which, based on what we know, is the most credible which has been made since you placed the Club up for sale over 20 months ago.

Please accept this second offer now, so that there is a chance that a sale might be completed, and a catastrophic outcome be avoided."

16 players have left the Mazumo Stadium, including Barker, with just three players remaining under contract.