Bury hit out at ‘dismal’ EFL after expulsion appeal rejected

Expelled club 'dismayed' at league's decision and alleged lack of communication

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Thursday 29 August 2019 18:19 BST
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Bury Football Club: Scene outside Gigg Lane as club struggles with financial issues

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Bury have hit out at the “dismal” English Football League, describing themselves as “utterly devastated” after a late attempt to avoid expulsion was rejected.

In a statement released on the club’s official website, Bury claimed the EFL were informed of a “credible new bidder” before Tuesday’s 5pm deadline.

The League One club said that prospective new owners have since proven “significant funds” to the EFL which could help keep the club alive.

But after a meeting of the EFL board on Thursday, the league informed Bury that they would not reverse their decision to expel the club, ending their 125-year membership.

“This is something we are struggling to comprehend as the new bidder has proven significant funds to the EFL, funds to allow them to takeover, run and secure the long-term future of Bury Football Club,” Bury said.

“Everyone at the club believed that such the capabilities of the potential new owner, this would’ve started a brand new era for the club, seeing it go from strength to strength.

“The extreme lack of communication from the EFL has left all involved with Bury Football Club astonished and in dismay,” Bury added.

“As a club, we are still pursuing other options, based on the outcome of where the EFL place us.

“Again, we would like to reiterate that the lack of communication from the EFL has been nothing short of dismal throughout this process.”

Bury became the first club to be kicked out of the Football League since 1992 on Tuesday after owner Steve Dale failed to prove he could either fund the club or complete a sale.

The two-time FA Cup winners saw a potential takeover by analytics firm C&N Sporting Risk collapse around 90 minutes before the deadline, leaving the club on the brink of extinction.

Two Bury MPs, Labour's James Frith and independent Ivan Lewis, wrote to the EFL on Wednesday urging the league to reconsider their decision.

Frith promised to "up the ante now with parliamentary and legal action" after their appeal failed on Thursday, while supporters trust Forever Bury said: "We are looking at all of the options available at this moment in time."

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