Bury’s troubled season got worse today as Manchester City served notice to evict them from their old Carrington training base.
The Premier League winners have been allowing the Shakers to use their old training ground since 2014 but the Manchester Evening News reports that they’re now going to serve notice due to a ‘failure to fulfil their obligations’ in the arrangement.
It comes less than 48 hours after star player Danny Mayor admitted he was leaving the club as their problems continue to mount up ahead of the coming season.
The Blues have claimed that pitches has deteriorated to an unacceptable level for a league club, as well as revealing that the water supply was cut off at one point.
The deal was rent free, an act of benevolence on behalf of the Premier League side, saving the Shakers around £350,000. They’ll now approach the new season with the prospect of nowhere to train, no manager to take the training and an ever-decreasing number of players as well.
Once the notice has been served, Bury will have until October to find a suitable training ground before being evicted.
They recently survived a third High Court date, with an adjournment set to allow time for a rumoured takeover to progress, although £350,000 further debt was added to the club.
Our View
At first glance, this does seem like the bigger club simply adding to the problems, kicking the Shakers when they’re down.
However, to have let them use the ground rent free for five years is an incredible gesture and the fact Bury haven’t maintained it is truly appalling. The money they’ve saved on another ground hasn’t been used wisely at all, so they’ve few to blame but themselves, or rather their different owners during the period.
It’s horrible to watch the situation unfolding at Bury. Along with Bolton Wanderers, there doesn’t seem to be a clear path through the troubles. Neither side are in any sort of shape to approach a new season. At least at Bolton there is a buyer and a way forward seems clear.
Bury are just dying in front of our very eyes.
