Football club offered lifeline until the end of the season
Bury Football Club has been given a lifeline until the end of the season.
The club was facing a winding-up petition in the courts over unpaid bills.
But a judge in the Insolvency and Companies Court has adjourned the case until May.
Following the case chairman Steve Dale said the club was ‘safe’ but warned there would have to be ‘major changes to sustain its existence’.
The petition was brought by HM Revenue and Customs over unpaid taxes amounting to £200,000.
Judge Sally Barber has listed the matter to be heard again on May 15.
In a statement after the hearing, the club said: “The chairman would like fans to know our club is safe and we got the result he was after.”
Mr Dale added in a subsequent statement that the adjournment ‘allows us the time to address the problems that have surfaced from the previous owners, which are substantial’.
He also said money would now be released for wages, after reports payments to staff and players for March had not been made.
He said: “I am pleased to say our new bankers will have opened our new account this week, so the money frozen in our NatWest account will be released to the new account, allowing the residual wages to be paid. I thank all for standing by the club whilst this was getting sorted.
“There will need to be major changes in the club to sustain its existence.
“It can no longer act like a Premier League club, as the previous owners aspired to and it needs to be cutting its cloth accordingly to guarantee its future, as this is paramount to fans and the community.
“Some actions will be bitter pills to take, and some people will disagree, but our course of action is imperative.
“I’m here to save a club not pander to certain individuals. The club comes first.”
Mr Dale bought the club and took over as chairman from former owner Stewart Day last December.
Bury North MP James Frith has written to Mr Dale asking for clarification on behalf of fans over the club’s financial situation.
He has also offered to chair a meeting with creditors and stakeholders.
