The dire financial situation at Bury FC was laid bare last night after the players issued a statement on Twitter revealing they haven’t been paid for twelve weeks.
They also called for the owner Steve Dale to ‘step aside, move on and stop negatively impacting everyone’s livelihoods’ in the passionate statement issued on the Twitter account of a senior figure in the dressing room Nicky Adams.
With reports suggesting that manager Ryan Lowe is set to join Plymouth Argyle and the players on the verge of revolt, the season has ended in turmoil for the Shakers after the joy of winning promotion back to League One at the first attempt.
Bury are back in the High Court to face a winding-up petition over an unpaid tax bill on 19 June.
Steve Dale took over the ownership of the troubled club in December and vowed to ‘establish Bury as a stable and self-sufficient League One side.’
By April he had put the Shakers back up for sale, claiming their financial troubles ‘turned out to be far in excess of what we could have comprehended.’
The players damming verdict on his ownership prompted much sympathy for the player’s plight on social media, but also many fans were furious with the EFL for standing by and watching this happen to another famous old club after the owner had passed its much-derided fit and proper person test.
Here is a selection of their responses on Twitter.
Good old @efl fit and proper test as usual. Shocking situation #buryfc
— Richard Gransden (@RGransden85) May 22, 2019
Yet again the EFL give another rogue owner the fit & proper test. Feel sorry for the Bury lads first of all u had Day & his BS & now u have this guy. Hope u sort it as love coming to Gigg but it's about time the EFL were made to sort ownership issues out for every club
— Rog (@rogerthedodge2) May 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/lilg6978/status/1131261173419188225
Wow, @EFL step in! Stop this madness from continuing, how many clubs have to suffer before you act?
— Nick Prowse (@nickprowse1) May 22, 2019
@EFL The EFL doing a sterling job in failing in their stewardship of the game. My club (Blackpool), you and many more getting screwed by unscrupulous owners. Nicky, I hope you and the other players get your dues and take heart knowing the real people in football are behind you.
— Mark H (@hevster_uk) May 22, 2019
@EFL @EFLTrust think it’s time you stepped in and made Dale sell the club as this is going too far and he’s holding out to ensure the club goes to the ground. Please don’t stand by and let it happen
— AK (@AK13988) May 22, 2019
Disgraceful that the @EFL allow this
— Aaron Dodds (@AaronDodds1) May 22, 2019
And what on earth is the @EFL doing about this? Shouldn’t ensuring clubs can pay their staff be part of the regulatory framework. And shouldn’t clubs be obliged to have so much money in their reserves before they can take part? Ffs it’s not rocket science.
— Simon Sapper (@simonsapper) May 23, 2019
wow. thats really awful, especially after the great season you have had. No help from @EFL ? As a football fan, regardless of club ties, I wish you (the players) & the club best wishes & hope you are able to fulfil your rightful place in Lge1.
— ChrisIronInPudsey💻💙👔 (@guiuan03) May 22, 2019
