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Mayor calls on football authorities to "be fair" over Bury FC expulsion


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At-risk Bury Football Club needs to be saved and the footballing authorities must "be fair" according to Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
 
Earlier in the day (Thursday 26 September) the English Football League (EFL) announced they had no plans to readmit the expelled football club to League Two at the start of the next season, despite concerted efforts from a Rescue Board comprising the Mayor, supporters’ society Forever Bury, James Frith MP for Bury North, Ivan Lewis MP for Bury South and Bury Council.
 
Speaking in Bury in front of an audience of local people at his monthly Mayor's Question Time event, the Mayor added that it was time to take the battle to save the Shakers "up another level".
 
Andy said: "It is a really sad day - 125 years in the Football League, an FA Cup winner. This club deserved more respect from the football family.
 
"It is now time to take the fight for the football club up another level. You cannot let this rest here. To send Bury FC down to the Northern Counties Football League, to let it plummet through the divisions, is essentially putting the future of the club on the line. 
 
"Although Bury FC have not been readmitted to League Two, it does still mean the authorities are a club short in the Conference for next season. That is where we take our call now.
 
"You cannot destroy a football club with this amount of heritage, with one of the best academies in English football. The club means so much to this town - the Leader of Bury Council is here tonight and we are as one on this.
 
"This football club needs to be saved. The football family needs to be fair. This town needs now to get behind the fight to keep Bury FC as a football club that has a realistic chance of getting back into the English Football League within a couple of years.
 
"Yes, Bury FC should face punishment for what happened because it gained an unfair advantage. But it shouldn't be thrown into the wilderness like this."

Article Published: 26/09/2019 20:49 PM