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STILL HOPE
Potential Bury saviours beg EFL to make dramatic U-turn in last-ditch bid to save club with £7m ready to invest
AN APPEAL to block Bury’s EFL expulsion is set to begin amid shock claims the ruling body misunderstood preparations to transfer funds to buy the club by 9am this morning.
SJ Global International were in place to buy the stricken Shakers and were in the process of agreeing the best way to transfer £7million in funds.
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However former Gigg Lane secretary Jill Neville took a call from EFL lawyer Nic Craig late on Tuesday night telling her the funds had been rescinded.
The league’s governing body then pulled the plug to make Bury the first club to be expelled since Maidstone United in 1992.
Yet sports lawyer Chris Farnell insists Bury should still be alive and that owner Steve Dale had accepted the deal.
He revealed all SJ Global were trying to do in communication with the EFL was to ascertain the best way to ensure the fastest and best way of transferring funds to complete the takeover.
SJ Global has offices around the world and is mainly owned by a Brazilian.
The offer to buy Bury came in late on Monday and the EFL were immediately contacted by Farnell who in discussions with them, he says, made it clear it appeared to meet all financial criteria.
What Bury's EFL Exit Means For League 1 and League 2 Promotion And Relegation
BURY have been expelled from the EFL but an appeal is likely to be launched.
If the Shakers' expulsion is upheld, it would leave League One down to 23 teams and affect promotion and relegations in two division.
Yet amid what appears to be confusion over the method of transferring the funds, Farnell claims the EFL believed the deal had broken down and expelled Bury as executive chair Debbie Jevons declared the situation “one of the darkest days” in the history of the game.
Yet those battling to save Bury were convinced SJ Global had come up with a tangible rescue package and were stunned by the EFL announcement.
And SunSport has seen an email addressed to some members of the EFL hierarchy which makes clear that SJ Global are valued at $500m “which clearly shows the company has enough money to buy Bury FC."
Farnell said: “All of the clubs' senior staff are amazed the club was not allowed a small extension for a period of a few hours, in order that funds in excess of £7m be deposited into an account to provide proof of funds to the EFL.
The fight goes on
Sports lawyer Chris Farnell
“This was a genuine offer and up until the EFL announcement, the funds were in the process of being transferred.
“Now that opportunity to save the club has been taken away from Bury FC.”
Farnell added: “We intend to try to make the EFL rescind their decision to expel Bury Football Club. The fight goes on.”
FA CUP EJECTION
Now fans have launched a . It reads: "Calling all football supporters.
"Bury FC have had 1000s of messages of support. We need your help more than ever.
"The EFL need to consider the SJ Global bid. The initial offer was in before the deadline, the money is transferred as promised, and this does not need to go to court.
"The EFL messed up and did not explore all avenues and incorrectly thought the bid had been withdrawn.
"Please sign this petition and contact your own club and supporters association and ask them to provide messages of support for Bury FC and pressure the EFL."
Despite having a potential appeal on the horizon, the FA confirmed this morning that Bury had also been kicked out of this season's FA Cup.
A statement read: "This is without doubt a sad day for Bury FC, their supporters and the local community.
"We appreciate how hard this decision has been for all parties involved.
"Following on from their expulsion from the English Football League, Bury FC will no longer be able to participate in the Emirates FA Cup for the 2019/20 season.
"We are therefore now consulting with our stakeholders regarding the first round proper following their exit from the league.
"If the club re-forms we look forward to them applying to make an application to the Football Association to re-join league competition further down the English football pyramid from the 2020/21 season."
FIREFIGHTING
Bury have been fighting financial problems for several years and were taken over by Steve Dale last December with the aim of saving them from going bust.
Dale bought the club for just £1 - but since then there have been a string of unpaid bills to companies while players and staff have also missed out on wages.
Amid nerve-shredding financial uncertainty, Bury's first five games of the season were suspended.
The Shakers exit the game's third tier having not played a match all season.
The Sun Says
BURY FC’s heartbroken fans were betrayed by a chancer and the league bosses who failed to check him out.
It is scandalous that the club’s sale went ahead before the EFL did due diligence on Steve Dale’s ability to run it.
A new regulator should be created to vet owners and ensure clubs’ viability.
Bury will rise again. We wish them luck.
For now, though, a club with a proud 125-year history is defunct and the heart has been torn out of a community.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Player Stephen Dawson said he was on the verge of losing his house amid the financial crisis.
As the clock ticked down, fans turned up at the Gigg Lane ground to carry out a deep clean in the hope that the club would fight another day.
Supporters were seen cleaning the seats and helping out with pitch improvements keeping everything crossed this weekend's home game against Doncaster was going to go ahead.
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Bury fans rally around to clean up stadium hours before do-or-die deadline
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