PFA involved in bid to resolve financial issues at Bury and Bolton

Bury Football Club

Bury FC’s opening fixture of the new season has been suspended by the English Football League (EFL) after the Shakers were unable to provide evidence over funding plans for the club.

But the EFL said Bolton Wanderers’ opener versus Wycombe Wanderers can proceed, after reports that the Professional Footballers’ Association had agreed to loan the club £2m.

The players’ union chief executive, Gordon Taylor, confirmed today that the PFA is working with both clubs to try and resolve the situation.

Speaking to Talksport he said of Bolton: “It’s not been an easy time. They’ve been in administration since May and they are struggling to get things over the line.

“We’ve got the season coming and there have been a lot of efforts made by the new consortium.

“We’ve got our players, many of whom have left the club and are owed wages for five months, and many who are at the club, and basically it’s about whether we think it’s a glass that’s half full or half empty.

“As we’ve got the season coming we’ve showed some faith and working with the League and the Premier League and the individuals concerned we are doing our best to get it over the line.

“There was a board meeting at the League yesterday (July 29) that approved it so at the moment it is fingers crossed.”

Regarding Bury, Taylor added: “We are trying to work with Bury but we need a lot more information.

“We’ve already loaned a considerable amount of money to the club and it’s not the debt that Bolton have got but it is still significant enough for (Bury) not to be accepted by the League.

“That is another club we are working with at the moment to try and get that sorted.”

In a statement at 10pm last night (July 29) league bosses said Bury, which claimed on July 18 that a rescue plan had been put in place to save it from a winding-up order, had failed to provide sufficient evidence that the League One side has sufficient financial backing for the coming season.

Having won promotion from League Two last season, the club said it had avoided a winding-up order over a tax bill after agreeing a CVA (company voluntary arrangement) with creditors and shareholders which it said would ensure its future.

However, the EFL had demanded further details by a 5pm deadline yesterday (July 29), and five hours later it said in a statement: “Following continued and comprehensive discussions with the ownership at Bury and other interested parties throughout Monday, the EFL board is not satisfied it has received the necessary evidence in regard to the outstanding information it requires that demonstrates how the club will be funded moving forwards.

“As a result of not meeting Monday’s 5pm deadline, which had been extended on two previous occasions, the EFL board feels it has been placed in an unenviable position and, regrettably, has opted to take the reluctant decision to suspend Saturday’s opening day fixture with MK Dons.

“In addition, the EFL board, if not in possession of the necessary evidence by 12pm on Friday, August 2, will make a determination as to whether to suspend Bury’s away fixture at Accrington Stanley on Saturday, August 10.”

It added: “As has been the case throughout this entire process, the EFL will continue to offer its full assistance to the ownership at Bury, but remains clear that while the League is here to support the club through some extremely complex and complicated issues, the outstanding matters can only be resolved with the cooperation from the club itself.”

Bolton, meanwhile, has been given clearance to play its opening fixture at Wycombe this Saturday after meeting the 5pm deadline for assurances on its financial position.

The club was placed into administration on May 13, the day it faced action by HMRC in the High Court over £1.2m of unpaid taxes.

Joint administrators revealed on July 1, that they had accepted a bid by Football Ventures (Whites) Ltd to acquire the club, which was relegated from the Championship last season.

But takeover talks have dragged on, and on July 17, the joint administrators called for a swift conclusion when the first of three friendly fixtures was cancelled after players claimed to be suffering from “severe mental and emotional stress” having not been paid for 20 weeks.

However, the EFL said last night: “The EFL board was appraised of the position in regard to the outstanding information requested in respect of ongoing matters at Bolton Wanderers.

“The board has fully considered the club’s further submissions and is satisfied that they are sufficient to meet the requirements of the League, subject to the completion of formal documentation.

“As a result the EFL board has opted not to suspend their opening day fixture with Wycombe Wanderers and it will remain as originally scheduled on Saturday, August 3, at 3pm.”

Neither Bolton nor Bury has issued a response.

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