| tomorrow can't come quick enough 14:17 - Oct 16 with 2297022 views | batman |
Not for us, but for Bury.
i was credit checking a potential customer and decided to nosey onto
BFC's file and was (or maybe not) supprised to see a new CCJ for circa £22k lodged
only Wednesday this week.
looks like they are in need of a bumper crowd tomorrow to settle some bills |  | | |  |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 21:48 - Sep 11 with 5194 views | JumeirahDale |
Decrying "party politics" over on the Pyongyang board.
On the unanimous vote. |  | | |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 21:50 - Sep 11 with 5182 views | D_Alien |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 21:48 - Sep 11 by JumeirahDale |
Decrying "party politics" over on the Pyongyang board.
On the unanimous vote. |
Had some of them already spent the taxpayers money that would've been involved? |  |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 00:06 - Sep 12 with 4923 views | Sandyman |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 21:50 - Sep 11 by D_Alien |
Had some of them already spent the taxpayers money that would've been involved? |
Don't they have a habit of spending money that they haven't got at bFC ?
Yes, they do.
And now it is the fault of the bury Councillors, on top of the fault of EVERYONE you could possibly name EXCEPT bury fans who watched it all go on for years with SD1 in charge and loved it..and did nothing to arrest the obvious crime that was committed on their watch. Year on year losses was "WowWowWow Revolution and enjoy the ride"
Don't expect sympathy now. You may think your "victim" mentality tactics will work. There are far smarter people working away underneath your view making damn sure the rest of the EFL clubs know how despicable bury FC are and have been.
bury were rightly kicked out of the EFL, within the EFL rules.
If they reform as a "phoenix" club, good luck to them. Play fair and manage yourselves fair, it's possible. |  | | |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:23 - Sep 12 with 4536 views | SuddenLad |
It's staggering how some of them on their message board are now turning on the MP, Frith, calling him out as a 'bandwagon jumper' and blaming the Council for sending them further into the abyss, by refusing to offer appropriate help at last night's Council meeting.
It seems Frith is a merely a windbag, canvassing for votes and has had no real input into any negotiations, contrary to what has been claimed. He has little influence, but has been very useful for raising the publicity and awareness of their plight. So at least the whole country now knows they're a basket case, so well done for that, Mr. Frith.
Has it occurred to any of them, that they owed Bury Council £150,000 and Trafford Council £130,000 when the CVA was created ?
Only an idiot would expect Bury Council to come charging to their rescue with a barrow load of cash, given their history of debt and fiscal irresponsibility.
As usual, everyone else is to blame. Not a shred of humility. Unbelievable. |  |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:28 - Sep 12 with 4510 views | DaleFan7 |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:23 - Sep 12 by SuddenLad |
It's staggering how some of them on their message board are now turning on the MP, Frith, calling him out as a 'bandwagon jumper' and blaming the Council for sending them further into the abyss, by refusing to offer appropriate help at last night's Council meeting.
It seems Frith is a merely a windbag, canvassing for votes and has had no real input into any negotiations, contrary to what has been claimed. He has little influence, but has been very useful for raising the publicity and awareness of their plight. So at least the whole country now knows they're a basket case, so well done for that, Mr. Frith.
Has it occurred to any of them, that they owed Bury Council £150,000 and Trafford Council £130,000 when the CVA was created ?
Only an idiot would expect Bury Council to come charging to their rescue with a barrow load of cash, given their history of debt and fiscal irresponsibility.
As usual, everyone else is to blame. Not a shred of humility. Unbelievable. |
Had to laugh at the irony of one post on that thread that claims its now the council's fault for not considering the fact that local businesses will have to liquidate as they relied on the football club.
Are they the local businesses that the club are trying to shaft 75% of the debt they owed them via a CVA or are they different local businesses, that actually matter? | | | |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:28 - Sep 12 with 4505 views | SandyDrum |
A couple of weeks ago I was on their messageboard and I told them some home truths that the media and majority of people will have forgotten about this debacle in a few weeks.
The world doesn't revolve around Bury FC and with the whole Brexit fiasco they will be very easily forgotten.
2 weeks down the line and they have been well and truly forgotten about - no mention in the newspapers, nothing on the news (not even the local news).
It's about time they realised that very soon, Bury FC will be a distant memory and they need to crack on and get a phoenix club going and work their way back up from the bottom instead of playing woe is me constantly. | |
| Wish I'd chosen a different username... |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:34 - Sep 12 with 4491 views | AussieDale |
The issue Ive noticed is the focus on Day and Dale as being the sole people responsible for this mess. I don't know if I've got this right but I thought that the doors were an hour off closing before Day came in. This suggests the club was in a critical state pre Day but they never seem to mention that fact. Day and Dale just hastened its' demise. | | | |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:38 - Sep 12 with 4482 views | DaleFan7 |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:34 - Sep 12 by AussieDale |
The issue Ive noticed is the focus on Day and Dale as being the sole people responsible for this mess. I don't know if I've got this right but I thought that the doors were an hour off closing before Day came in. This suggests the club was in a critical state pre Day but they never seem to mention that fact. Day and Dale just hastened its' demise. |
If the gates were really an hour from closing as has been previously said then Day and Dale have actually prolonged the club for 6 years. This has been coming for 30 years not the last 6 months as some of them will lead you to believe. | | | |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:46 - Sep 12 with 4463 views | heywooddale |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:34 - Sep 12 by AussieDale |
The issue Ive noticed is the focus on Day and Dale as being the sole people responsible for this mess. I don't know if I've got this right but I thought that the doors were an hour off closing before Day came in. This suggests the club was in a critical state pre Day but they never seem to mention that fact. Day and Dale just hastened its' demise. |
If I remember rightly they were about 2 million in debt, not paying players and unable to negotiate a CVA so they were close to going to the wall when Day road in to save the day. He did a bang up job of that. [Post edited 12 Sep 2019 11:46]
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:54 - Sep 12 with 4443 views | SuddenLad |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:28 - Sep 12 by SandyDrum |
A couple of weeks ago I was on their messageboard and I told them some home truths that the media and majority of people will have forgotten about this debacle in a few weeks.
The world doesn't revolve around Bury FC and with the whole Brexit fiasco they will be very easily forgotten.
2 weeks down the line and they have been well and truly forgotten about - no mention in the newspapers, nothing on the news (not even the local news).
It's about time they realised that very soon, Bury FC will be a distant memory and they need to crack on and get a phoenix club going and work their way back up from the bottom instead of playing woe is me constantly. |
Agreed, but one of today's contributors says that there is no possibility of any successful outcome, because too many people have too many different and opposing views as to how it should be arranged.
As you say, the longer they are out of the mass media, the less anyone will care. They're out of the EFL, (rightly expelled) they're now out of the public conscience, missing from the football coupon and still mired in debt. There are no longer any 'credible bids' despite a so-called 'last minute flurry' when they were on the verge of expulsion. If those bidders were either 'credible', or even actually existed, they aren't interested any more.
All I can see is liquidation. What other outcome can there possible be ? | |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 12:27 - Sep 12 with 4355 views | rod_leach |
One of them is saying something like the council should buy them/bail them out and if they then run at a loss that's OK as they are a free advert for the town.
Honestly. |  | | |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 13:58 - Sep 12 with 4162 views | R17ALE |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 11:34 - Sep 12 by AussieDale |
The issue Ive noticed is the focus on Day and Dale as being the sole people responsible for this mess. I don't know if I've got this right but I thought that the doors were an hour off closing before Day came in. This suggests the club was in a critical state pre Day but they never seem to mention that fact. Day and Dale just hastened its' demise. |
You have got it right.
Neville did a canvassing job of 10 businesses to chip in £100,000 each to keep the club going through the summer of 2013 (?). He said ten businesses were required but this plan was then shelved around the time Day appeared.
It was said at the time that Day's intervention has stopped the club going to the wall.
When others then sensibly questioned his modus operandi, the "enjoy the ride" brigade chorused, "we'd already be gone but for Day" as though that excused anything. I remember shaking my head at their folly.
The same brigade are now doling out victim cards and pointing the finger of blame wherever they can. |  |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 15:28 - Sep 12 with 4018 views | Thacks_Rabbits |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 13:58 - Sep 12 by R17ALE |
You have got it right.
Neville did a canvassing job of 10 businesses to chip in £100,000 each to keep the club going through the summer of 2013 (?). He said ten businesses were required but this plan was then shelved around the time Day appeared.
It was said at the time that Day's intervention has stopped the club going to the wall.
When others then sensibly questioned his modus operandi, the "enjoy the ride" brigade chorused, "we'd already be gone but for Day" as though that excused anything. I remember shaking my head at their folly.
The same brigade are now doling out victim cards and pointing the finger of blame wherever they can. |
Sure like me R17 you remember the story of the pied piper of Hamlin, although that is probably banned in schools now as he was clearly into animal cruelty and was a paedophilic narcissistic attention seeker, not a good example for children!
bURY will continue to follow and believe anything that is said, they still are now, if Warren Buffett was linked with a takeover, they would be googling his name then opening the champagne and dreaming of the championship and another new stadium.
Even now it’s everyone else’s fault, nothing they could have done and why did nobody help us. Let’s say for example a huge investor approached Rochdale and said I want to buy the club, I have 50 million quid to invest and want to take us to a new level. I know after initial excitement it would be immediately questioned as “Why the hell do you want to invest that in Rochdale?”
Discussions and proper investigations would take place, by the board, commercial team, fans, everybody. Ok some would buy into the dream, but the truth is we would be cynical and every part of the perspective buyers business and history would be investigated thoroughly.
Whilst bURY think they are still big news, the truth is few care other than them, those that do are disorganised, divided and powerless. Notice the lack of bURY visitors posting has dropped to virtually nil. Perhaps they forgot to pay their phone bills!!!! |  |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 17:41 - Sep 12 with 3803 views | James1980 |
I reckon one reason for no serious bids being made for the old girl is other than a core of supporters there are not enough who really care what happens to the club. Had the home stands been nearly full the other week when flowers were laid on the pitch. But nope not even one stand was at capacity. | |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:05 - Sep 12 with 3751 views | Thacks_Rabbits |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 17:41 - Sep 12 by James1980 |
I reckon one reason for no serious bids being made for the old girl is other than a core of supporters there are not enough who really care what happens to the club. Had the home stands been nearly full the other week when flowers were laid on the pitch. But nope not even one stand was at capacity. |
They could have covered the pitch in flowers James and it would have made no difference at all in the overall outcome, had they filled the stadium with 10k of fans, the cynical would say “where are you every home game?”
All they are doing currently is making empty gestures, it’s like the funeral for the guy you never knew that well, saw a couple of times a year, and now he is no longer here, you feel bad and miss him due to guilt. Sure some are loyal fans but others jump in like rubberneckers do at a car crash.
If bURY owed a transparent 5 million, no skeletons, no car park issues, up to date accounts, they had a chance of a buyer, it’s the lies and tangled web of god knows what’s around the corner that has killed them. Had everything been clear and above board, lenders and those owed money will sit down and negotiate, but bURY are so wrapped up In mystery, only Dale would ever buy them.
I would have bought them for 2 quid of SD1, why not, you cannot lose, that’s limited companies for you, but they are utterly uninvestable because you don’t know what you are buying, think of dragons den, love the product, love you, love the idea, so what are your numbers like? I will tell you where I am now, i’m Out!!! | |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:22 - Sep 12 with 3700 views | judd |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:05 - Sep 12 by Thacks_Rabbits |
They could have covered the pitch in flowers James and it would have made no difference at all in the overall outcome, had they filled the stadium with 10k of fans, the cynical would say “where are you every home game?”
All they are doing currently is making empty gestures, it’s like the funeral for the guy you never knew that well, saw a couple of times a year, and now he is no longer here, you feel bad and miss him due to guilt. Sure some are loyal fans but others jump in like rubberneckers do at a car crash.
If bURY owed a transparent 5 million, no skeletons, no car park issues, up to date accounts, they had a chance of a buyer, it’s the lies and tangled web of god knows what’s around the corner that has killed them. Had everything been clear and above board, lenders and those owed money will sit down and negotiate, but bURY are so wrapped up In mystery, only Dale would ever buy them.
I would have bought them for 2 quid of SD1, why not, you cannot lose, that’s limited companies for you, but they are utterly uninvestable because you don’t know what you are buying, think of dragons den, love the product, love you, love the idea, so what are your numbers like? I will tell you where I am now, i’m Out!!! |
They've had Daysies and Dalehias, a carnation outside and Blossoms lined up for the weekender. |  |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:30 - Sep 12 with 3664 views | roccydaleian |
Letter sent to EFL Board
Forever Bury
29 minutes ago
8 min read
EFL Board Letter
Recently, representatives from Forever Bury in conjunction with the Rescue Board submitted a Proposal Letter to the EFL setting out our case for readmission of Bury Football Club into the English Football League Two next season.
The letter was prepared following a meeting between Forever Bury and Debbie Jevans late last week when it was suggested Forever Bury submit their arguments in writing. This could then be circulated to the EFL Board Members prior to their scheduled meeting to be held yesterday (Wednesday), when Bury Football Club was to be discussed. Although we have not received a response as of yet, we feel that the supporters of Bury Football Club deserve to see the letter, and this is displayed below.
Dear Ms Jevans,
Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and your colleagues on Thursday 5th September 2019, we feel that the meeting was very productive and allowed us to open a positive and constructive dialogue with the EFL.
This letter will cover:
· our proposal which seeks permission for the club’s readmission to League 2;
· an acknowledgement of the current situation; and
· an overview of the impact of the club’s expulsion from the League on the wider footballing family and community.
Proposal
As you are aware, the decision to expel the club from the League has had far reaching social and economic consequences for not only the club and those immediately connected to it, but also for its creditors and the wider community.
In recognition of the urgent need to mitigate the impact of the club’s expulsion, Forever Bury plays a lead role in the town-wide assembled Rescue Board. Chaired by Bury North MP James Frith with fellow members including Ivan Lewis MP for Bury South, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and Bury Council with the aim of securing the re-admission of the club to League Two next season. This will include an appeal to all 71 clubs and the EFL predicated on new ownership of the club and an appeal to new bidders to come forward.
To this end, the Rescue Board has already successfully opened positive dialogue with Mr Dale and created a framework which we believe will deliver a positive outcome for Bury Football Club by facilitating a sale of Mr Dale’s shares to a party, and on terms, compatible with League membership.
It is intended that a professional, open and transparent process be created. It is envisaged that with the co-operation of Mr Dale, prospective bidders will be provided with the relevant information about both the Club's financial position and stance within the Community in order to allow them to make informed and credible offers.
All offers received will then be assessed by the Rescue Board to determine their credibility and this Group will provide an endorsement to the EFL of appropriate bidders — we would welcome your input into the criteria against which bids are assessed. It is expected that this process will take 6 weeks.
In addition, with a view to ensuring that Bury and its supporters do not end up in a similar position to where we find ourselves today, it is our intention to request that any prospective purchaser of the club enter into a shareholders’ agreement with Forever Bury, as the second largest shareholder, to include protective provisions including:
· a right of pre-emption on the majority shares for Forever Bury;
· the right of Forever Bury to have at least 1 member on the board of directors;
· a right of access to club financial information / management accounts for Forever Bury;
· a minimum shareholding of 10/15% for Forever Bury which cannot be diluted without agreement; and
· provisions for the automatic transfer of the majority shares should the owner or his nominee:
o cease to be a director (and a reverse provision providing for the majority shareholders resignation as a director in the event of the sale of his shares by automatic transfer or otherwise);
o fail to pass the fit and proper person test;
o is found guilty of any criminal or civil offense; or
o becomes mentally or physically unfit to run the club.
In the event that a prospective purchaser had not passed the fit and proper person test we would also request that upon the completion of a successful bid that they grant an option over their shares to Forever Bury. It is envisaged that the trigger for the option would be the owner’s failure to pass the fit and proper test with the amount payable for the shares should Forever Bury chose to exercise the option being fixed at a pre-agreed price. This would ensure that the club was not left with an ownership incompatible with League membership.
We would also be looking for a prospective purchaser to agree to have a plan in place to successfully deliver the CVA inject a pre-agreed amount of funding into the club immediately upon acquiring the shares to satisfy all post CVA liabilities to ensure creditor action cannot be taken against the club.
Should a prospective purchaser come forward that has the Rescue Board’s support, we would look to work with Mr Dale to facilitate a sale of his shares within the agreed framework.
We recognise that in order to secure re-admission of the club to the League that the EFL will have a number of requirements that must be met. We would be grateful if you would confirm as a matter of urgency exactly what criteria the EFL would require the club to meet, together with any applicable timeframes, to secure the club’s re-admission to League Two next season in addition to the following:
· the club to be under new ownership;
· all football creditor debts to be paid in full;
· other debts settled or renegotiated under new repayment terms;
· proof of funding in place for season 20/21; and
· owner of the club to have passed the EFL owners and directors test.
It is our proposal that re-admission of the club to the League is made under Regulation 11 which provides a mechanism for the EFL Board to admit a club to the League in the event the number of member clubs falls below 72 and for that club to play in League Two in its first season following its successful admission.
Without prejudice to the above, we understand that the Board of the EFL has called a meeting of the 71 remaining members of the League to vote on the issue of the club’s re-admission to League Two next season and we welcome this decision.
It can’t be underestimated the impact that the resubmission of Bury into League 2 will have on the ability to attract buyers for this historic club.
Acknowledgement
We, as the official Supporters’ Trust of Bury Football Club, recognise the difficult decisions that the EFL have faced over the last few months. We acknowledge that over the years Bury Football Club owners have spent money that the club simply did not have. Frustratingly, as a Supporters’ Trust we have had no choice but to stand by as spectators and watch unscrupulous owners gamble the future of the club and ultimately, destroy 134 years of history in the process.
Everyone must understand and acknowledge that the current situation is a lose - lose scenario for every stakeholder in the game, from football governance and members, to the supporters of all clubs across the country.
This decision will set a precedent and therefore all clubs will need to consider if the response is proportionate and strikes the right balance.
A precedent has now been set where clubs have no protection from unprincipled owners who are free to gamble and play with the future of their football clubs; it’s a situation which could happen to any one of the remaining 71 members of the football league. Yes, lessons need to be learned from this, but safeguards need to be in place before the event happens not afterwards to ensure that no other club becomes the victim of a system which is open to abuse as so clearly and catastrophically illustrated in Bury’s case.
Impact on wider footballing family and community
The expulsion of the Club from the League has had wide ranging social and economic consequences that reach much further than the club itself, affecting not only the local community but also the wider football family in ways which the Board may not have been made aware of at the time the decision to expel Bury from the League was made. Appendices 1 & 2 are impact statements from two supporters.
The club under the current management, and as a result of its consequential expulsion from the League, has been decimated with the loss of the following:
· 35 Permanent staff including coaches and office staff. This does not include playing staff.
· 15 contractors and or casual workers.
· 140 youth players ranging from 8 years old through to 16 years old.
· 16 recently signed scholars, all of which are now free to sign for other clubs.
Many employees have not been paid in several months and thus have been severely financially disadvantaged as a direct result of the actions of the owner.
We urge you to look at Appendices 3 & 4 which are statements of impact from current staff members.
Bury has had an extremely successful youth system for several years. Over the last six years the Club has generated in the region of £2 million pounds in transfer fees for academy players, scholars and pro players that have come through our Academy and been coached by our staff. The decision made has inevitably meant the youth academy sadly no longer operates. Again, dedicated staff have lost their jobs and 140 young men have had their education and futures put in doubt as they desperately seek new clubs. We have included a detailed impact statement from Jill Neville (Company Secretary) in Appendix 5 that explains in detail the tragic repercussions.
In the community, numerous local businesses are looking at significant losses to their income, whilst the economic repercussions on the town overall are obvious due to the loss of business for local traders and suppliers and the inevitable loss of visitors from away teams. Please turn to Appendices 6, 7 & 8 that set out impact statements from local businesses that have suffered as a direct result of the club not playing any football so far this season.
The clubs expulsion from the League in the middle of the CVA term has also meant that as matters stand, there is no possibility of the CVA succeeding which will have significant consequences for the numerous CVA creditors.
We would also draw your attention to Appendix 9 which illustrates the owner’s approach.
Summary
The Rescue Board is committed to working with the EFL to secure the club’s return to League Two next season and we hope that this letter is the start of an open dialogue between us to achieve this.
We trust that the Board will consider the representations made herein in good faith and in particular the impact statements provided which illustrate the need for the repercussions of the club’s expulsion to be mitigated quickly by its return to League football next season.
We should be grateful if you would ensure that copies of this letter are made available to all Board members and tabled for discussion at tomorrow’s meeting.
Please note that we are happy to make a representative available to answer any questions that the Board may have and we should be grateful if you would revert at the earliest opportunity following the meeting of the Board.
Yours sincerely,
Forever Bury — Supporters Trust
James Frith — MP for North Bury
Ivan Lewis — MP for South Bury
Andy Burnham — Mayor of Greater Manchester
David Jones — Leader of Bury Council |  | | |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:31 - Sep 12 with 3659 views | KenBoon |
This winds me up so much
They address it to their chosen bogeyman.
List all the politicians they supposedly have on their side.
Insist, again, that grizzly is on their side now.
Forget that Forever Bury were on the board when The Chur' took over.
The sheer f**king entitlement of that letter makes my teeth itch. |  | | |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:37 - Sep 12 with 3622 views | DaleiLama |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:22 - Sep 12 by judd |
They've had Daysies and Dalehias, a carnation outside and Blossoms lined up for the weekender. |
…… and poison ivy climbing up the drainpipes |  |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:39 - Sep 12 with 3616 views | 442Dale |
<<“Frustratingly, as a Supporters’ Trust we have had no choice but to stand by as spectators and watch unscrupulous owners gamble the future of the club and ultimately, destroy 134 years of history in the process.”>>
“no choice”. Whatever. There’s always a choice for them as a Trust to express opinion on behalf of supporters when the club didn’t respond/said something ALL supporters deserved to know. Did this happen over the last six years on a consistent basis when they say “We acknowledge that over the years Bury Football Club owners have spent money that the club simply did not have.”?
No.
They’ll never learn, even though some did a very long time ago. |  |
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| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:50 - Sep 12 with 3564 views | Thacks_Rabbits |
| tomorrow can't come quick enough on 18:30 - Sep 12 by roccydaleian |
Letter sent to EFL Board
Forever Bury
29 minutes ago
8 min read
EFL Board Letter
Recently, representatives from Forever Bury in conjunction with the Rescue Board submitted a Proposal Letter to the EFL setting out our case for readmission of Bury Football Club into the English Football League Two next season.
The letter was prepared following a meeting between Forever Bury and Debbie Jevans late last week when it was suggested Forever Bury submit their arguments in writing. This could then be circulated to the EFL Board Members prior to their scheduled meeting to be held yesterday (Wednesday), when Bury Football Club was to be discussed. Although we have not received a response as of yet, we feel that the supporters of Bury Football Club deserve to see the letter, and this is displayed below.
Dear Ms Jevans,
Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and your colleagues on Thursday 5th September 2019, we feel that the meeting was very productive and allowed us to open a positive and constructive dialogue with the EFL.
This letter will cover:
· our proposal which seeks permission for the club’s readmission to League 2;
· an acknowledgement of the current situation; and
· an overview of the impact of the club’s expulsion from the League on the wider footballing family and community.
Proposal
As you are aware, the decision to expel the club from the League has had far reaching social and economic consequences for not only the club and those immediately connected to it, but also for its creditors and the wider community.
In recognition of the urgent need to mitigate the impact of the club’s expulsion, Forever Bury plays a lead role in the town-wide assembled Rescue Board. Chaired by Bury North MP James Frith with fellow members including Ivan Lewis MP for Bury South, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and Bury Council with the aim of securing the re-admission of the club to League Two next season. This will include an appeal to all 71 clubs and the EFL predicated on new ownership of the club and an appeal to new bidders to come forward.
To this end, the Rescue Board has already successfully opened positive dialogue with Mr Dale and created a framework which we believe will deliver a positive outcome for Bury Football Club by facilitating a sale of Mr Dale’s shares to a party, and on terms, compatible with League membership.
It is intended that a professional, open and transparent process be created. It is envisaged that with the co-operation of Mr Dale, prospective bidders will be provided with the relevant information about both the Club's financial position and stance within the Community in order to allow them to make informed and credible offers.
All offers received will then be assessed by the Rescue Board to determine their credibility and this Group will provide an endorsement to the EFL of appropriate bidders — we would welcome your input into the criteria against which bids are assessed. It is expected that this process will take 6 weeks.
In addition, with a view to ensuring that Bury and its supporters do not end up in a similar position to where we find ourselves today, it is our intention to request that any prospective purchaser of the club enter into a shareholders’ agreement with Forever Bury, as the second largest shareholder, to include protective provisions including:
· a right of pre-emption on the majority shares for Forever Bury;
· the right of Forever Bury to have at least 1 member on the board of directors;
· a right of access to club financial information / management accounts for Forever Bury;
· a minimum shareholding of 10/15% for Forever Bury which cannot be diluted without agreement; and
· provisions for the automatic transfer of the majority shares should the owner or his nominee:
o cease to be a director (and a reverse provision providing for the majority shareholders resignation as a director in the event of the sale of his shares by automatic transfer or otherwise);
o fail to pass the fit and proper person test;
o is found guilty of any criminal or civil offense; or
o becomes mentally or physically unfit to run the club.
In the event that a prospective purchaser had not passed the fit and proper person test we would also request that upon the completion of a successful bid that they grant an option over their shares to Forever Bury. It is envisaged that the trigger for the option would be the owner’s failure to pass the fit and proper test with the amount payable for the shares should Forever Bury chose to exercise the option being fixed at a pre-agreed price. This would ensure that the club was not left with an ownership incompatible with League membership.
We would also be looking for a prospective purchaser to agree to have a plan in place to successfully deliver the CVA inject a pre-agreed amount of funding into the club immediately upon acquiring the shares to satisfy all post CVA liabilities to ensure creditor action cannot be taken against the club.
Should a prospective purchaser come forward that has the Rescue Board’s support, we would look to work with Mr Dale to facilitate a sale of his shares within the agreed framework.
We recognise that in order to secure re-admission of the club to the League that the EFL will have a number of requirements that must be met. We would be grateful if you would confirm as a matter of urgency exactly what criteria the EFL would require the club to meet, together with any applicable timeframes, to secure the club’s re-admission to League Two next season in addition to the following:
· the club to be under new ownership;
· all football creditor debts to be paid in full;
· other debts settled or renegotiated under new repayment terms;
· proof of funding in place for season 20/21; and
· owner of the club to have passed the EFL owners and directors test.
It is our proposal that re-admission of the club to the League is made under Regulation 11 which provides a mechanism for the EFL Board to admit a club to the League in the event the number of member clubs falls below 72 and for that club to play in League Two in its first season following its successful admission.
Without prejudice to the above, we understand that the Board of the EFL has called a meeting of the 71 remaining members of the League to vote on the issue of the club’s re-admission to League Two next season and we welcome this decision.
It can’t be underestimated the impact that the resubmission of Bury into League 2 will have on the ability to attract buyers for this historic club.
Acknowledgement
We, as the official Supporters’ Trust of Bury Football Club, recognise the difficult decisions that the EFL have faced over the last few months. We acknowledge that over the years Bury Football Club owners have spent money that the club simply did not have. Frustratingly, as a Supporters’ Trust we have had no choice but to stand by as spectators and watch unscrupulous owners gamble the future of the club and ultimately, destroy 134 years of history in the process.
Everyone must understand and acknowledge that the current situation is a lose - lose scenario for every stakeholder in the game, from football governance and members, to the supporters of all clubs across the country.
This decision will set a precedent and therefore all clubs will need to consider if the response is proportionate and strikes the right balance.
A precedent has now been set where clubs have no protection from unprincipled owners who are free to gamble and play with the future of their football clubs; it’s a situation which could happen to any one of the remaining 71 members of the football league. Yes, lessons need to be learned from this, but safeguards need to be in place before the event happens not afterwards to ensure that no other club becomes the victim of a system which is open to abuse as so clearly and catastrophically illustrated in Bury’s case.
Impact on wider footballing family and community
The expulsion of the Club from the League has had wide ranging social and economic consequences that reach much further than the club itself, affecting not only the local community but also the wider football family in ways which the Board may not have been made aware of at the time the decision to expel Bury from the League was made. Appendices 1 & 2 are impact statements from two supporters.
The club under the current management, and as a result of its consequential expulsion from the League, has been decimated with the loss of the following:
· 35 Permanent staff including coaches and office staff. This does not include playing staff.
· 15 contractors and or casual workers.
· 140 youth players ranging from 8 years old through to 16 years old.
· 16 recently signed scholars, all of which are now free to sign for other clubs.
Many employees have not been paid in several months and thus have been severely financially disadvantaged as a direct result of the actions of the owner.
We urge you to look at Appendices 3 & 4 which are statements of impact from current staff members.
Bury has had an extremely successful youth system for several years. Over the last six years the Club has generated in the region of £2 million pounds in transfer fees for academy players, scholars and pro players that have come through our Academy and been coached by our staff. The decision made has inevitably meant the youth academy sadly no longer operates. Again, dedicated staff have lost their jobs and 140 young men have had their education and futures put in doubt as they desperately seek new clubs. We have included a detailed impact statement from Jill Neville (Company Secretary) in Appendix 5 that explains in detail the tragic repercussions.
In the community, numerous local businesses are looking at significant losses to their income, whilst the economic repercussions on the town overall are obvious due to the loss of business for local traders and suppliers and the inevitable loss of visitors from away teams. Please turn to Appendices 6, 7 & 8 that set out impact statements from local businesses that have suffered as a direct result of the club not playing any football so far this season.
The clubs expulsion from the League in the middle of the CVA term has also meant that as matters stand, there is no possibility of the CVA succeeding which will have significant consequences for the numerous CVA creditors.
We would also draw your attention to Appendix 9 which illustrates the owner’s approach.
Summary
The Rescue Board is committed to working with the EFL to secure the club’s return to League Two next season and we hope that this letter is the start of an open dialogue between us to achieve this.
We trust that the Board will consider the representations made herein in good faith and in particular the impact statements provided which illustrate the need for the repercussions of the club’s expulsion to be mitigated quickly by its return to League football next season.
We should be grateful if you would ensure that copies of this letter are made available to all Board members and tabled for discussion at tomorrow’s meeting.
Please note that we are happy to make a representative available to answer any questions that the Board may have and we should be grateful if you would revert at the earliest opportunity following the meeting of the Board.
Yours sincerely,
Forever Bury — Supporters Trust
James Frith — MP for North Bury
Ivan Lewis — MP for South Bury
Andy Burnham — Mayor of Greater Manchester
David Jones — Leader of Bury Council |
Fook off bURY | |
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Letter sent to EFL Board
Forever Bury
29 minutes ago
8 min read
EFL Board Letter
Recently, representatives from Forever Bury in conjunction with the Rescue Board submitted a Proposal Letter to the EFL setting out our case for readmission of Bury Football Club into the English Football League Two next season.
The letter was prepared following a meeting between Forever Bury and Debbie Jevans late last week when it was suggested Forever Bury submit their arguments in writing. This could then be circulated to the EFL Board Members prior to their scheduled meeting to be held yesterday (Wednesday), when Bury Football Club was to be discussed. Although we have not received a response as of yet, we feel that the supporters of Bury Football Club deserve to see the letter, and this is displayed below.
Dear Ms Jevans,
Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and your colleagues on Thursday 5th September 2019, we feel that the meeting was very productive and allowed us to open a positive and constructive dialogue with the EFL.
This letter will cover:
· our proposal which seeks permission for the club’s readmission to League 2;
· an acknowledgement of the current situation; and
· an overview of the impact of the club’s expulsion from the League on the wider footballing family and community.
Proposal
As you are aware, the decision to expel the club from the League has had far reaching social and economic consequences for not only the club and those immediately connected to it, but also for its creditors and the wider community.
In recognition of the urgent need to mitigate the impact of the club’s expulsion, Forever Bury plays a lead role in the town-wide assembled Rescue Board. Chaired by Bury North MP James Frith with fellow members including Ivan Lewis MP for Bury South, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and Bury Council with the aim of securing the re-admission of the club to League Two next season. This will include an appeal to all 71 clubs and the EFL predicated on new ownership of the club and an appeal to new bidders to come forward.
To this end, the Rescue Board has already successfully opened positive dialogue with Mr Dale and created a framework which we believe will deliver a positive outcome for Bury Football Club by facilitating a sale of Mr Dale’s shares to a party, and on terms, compatible with League membership.
It is intended that a professional, open and transparent process be created. It is envisaged that with the co-operation of Mr Dale, prospective bidders will be provided with the relevant information about both the Club's financial position and stance within the Community in order to allow them to make informed and credible offers.
All offers received will then be assessed by the Rescue Board to determine their credibility and this Group will provide an endorsement to the EFL of appropriate bidders — we would welcome your input into the criteria against which bids are assessed. It is expected that this process will take 6 weeks.
In addition, with a view to ensuring that Bury and its supporters do not end up in a similar position to where we find ourselves today, it is our intention to request that any prospective purchaser of the club enter into a shareholders’ agreement with Forever Bury, as the second largest shareholder, to include protective provisions including:
· a right of pre-emption on the majority shares for Forever Bury;
· the right of Forever Bury to have at least 1 member on the board of directors;
· a right of access to club financial information / management accounts for Forever Bury;
· a minimum shareholding of 10/15% for Forever Bury which cannot be diluted without agreement; and
· provisions for the automatic transfer of the majority shares should the owner or his nominee:
o cease to be a director (and a reverse provision providing for the majority shareholders resignation as a director in the event of the sale of his shares by automatic transfer or otherwise);
o fail to pass the fit and proper person test;
o is found guilty of any criminal or civil offense; or
o becomes mentally or physically unfit to run the club.
In the event that a prospective purchaser had not passed the fit and proper person test we would also request that upon the completion of a successful bid that they grant an option over their shares to Forever Bury. It is envisaged that the trigger for the option would be the owner’s failure to pass the fit and proper test with the amount payable for the shares should Forever Bury chose to exercise the option being fixed at a pre-agreed price. This would ensure that the club was not left with an ownership incompatible with League membership.
We would also be looking for a prospective purchaser to agree to have a plan in place to successfully deliver the CVA inject a pre-agreed amount of funding into the club immediately upon acquiring the shares to satisfy all post CVA liabilities to ensure creditor action cannot be taken against the club.
Should a prospective purchaser come forward that has the Rescue Board’s support, we would look to work with Mr Dale to facilitate a sale of his shares within the agreed framework.
We recognise that in order to secure re-admission of the club to the League that the EFL will have a number of requirements that must be met. We would be grateful if you would confirm as a matter of urgency exactly what criteria the EFL would require the club to meet, together with any applicable timeframes, to secure the club’s re-admission to League Two next season in addition to the following:
· the club to be under new ownership;
· all football creditor debts to be paid in full;
· other debts settled or renegotiated under new repayment terms;
· proof of funding in place for season 20/21; and
· owner of the club to have passed the EFL owners and directors test.
It is our proposal that re-admission of the club to the League is made under Regulation 11 which provides a mechanism for the EFL Board to admit a club to the League in the event the number of member clubs falls below 72 and for that club to play in League Two in its first season following its successful admission.
Without prejudice to the above, we understand that the Board of the EFL has called a meeting of the 71 remaining members of the League to vote on the issue of the club’s re-admission to League Two next season and we welcome this decision.
It can’t be underestimated the impact that the resubmission of Bury into League 2 will have on the ability to attract buyers for this historic club.
Acknowledgement
We, as the official Supporters’ Trust of Bury Football Club, recognise the difficult decisions that the EFL have faced over the last few months. We acknowledge that over the years Bury Football Club owners have spent money that the club simply did not have. Frustratingly, as a Supporters’ Trust we have had no choice but to stand by as spectators and watch unscrupulous owners gamble the future of the club and ultimately, destroy 134 years of history in the process.
Everyone must understand and acknowledge that the current situation is a lose - lose scenario for every stakeholder in the game, from football governance and members, to the supporters of all clubs across the country.
This decision will set a precedent and therefore all clubs will need to consider if the response is proportionate and strikes the right balance.
A precedent has now been set where clubs have no protection from unprincipled owners who are free to gamble and play with the future of their football clubs; it’s a situation which could happen to any one of the remaining 71 members of the football league. Yes, lessons need to be learned from this, but safeguards need to be in place before the event happens not afterwards to ensure that no other club becomes the victim of a system which is open to abuse as so clearly and catastrophically illustrated in Bury’s case.
Impact on wider footballing family and community
The expulsion of the Club from the League has had wide ranging social and economic consequences that reach much further than the club itself, affecting not only the local community but also the wider football family in ways which the Board may not have been made aware of at the time the decision to expel Bury from the League was made. Appendices 1 & 2 are impact statements from two supporters.
The club under the current management, and as a result of its consequential expulsion from the League, has been decimated with the loss of the following:
· 35 Permanent staff including coaches and office staff. This does not include playing staff.
· 15 contractors and or casual workers.
· 140 youth players ranging from 8 years old through to 16 years old.
· 16 recently signed scholars, all of which are now free to sign for other clubs.
Many employees have not been paid in several months and thus have been severely financially disadvantaged as a direct result of the actions of the owner.
We urge you to look at Appendices 3 & 4 which are statements of impact from current staff members.
Bury has had an extremely successful youth system for several years. Over the last six years the Club has generated in the region of £2 million pounds in transfer fees for academy players, scholars and pro players that have come through our Academy and been coached by our staff. The decision made has inevitably meant the youth academy sadly no longer operates. Again, dedicated staff have lost their jobs and 140 young men have had their education and futures put in doubt as they desperately seek new clubs. We have included a detailed impact statement from Jill Neville (Company Secretary) in Appendix 5 that explains in detail the tragic repercussions.
In the community, numerous local businesses are looking at significant losses to their income, whilst the economic repercussions on the town overall are obvious due to the loss of business for local traders and suppliers and the inevitable loss of visitors from away teams. Please turn to Appendices 6, 7 & 8 that set out impact statements from local businesses that have suffered as a direct result of the club not playing any football so far this season.
The clubs expulsion from the League in the middle of the CVA term has also meant that as matters stand, there is no possibility of the CVA succeeding which will have significant consequences for the numerous CVA creditors.
We would also draw your attention to Appendix 9 which illustrates the owner’s approach.
Summary
The Rescue Board is committed to working with the EFL to secure the club’s return to League Two next season and we hope that this letter is the start of an open dialogue between us to achieve this.
We trust that the Board will consider the representations made herein in good faith and in particular the impact statements provided which illustrate the need for the repercussions of the club’s expulsion to be mitigated quickly by its return to League football next season.
We should be grateful if you would ensure that copies of this letter are made available to all Board members and tabled for discussion at tomorrow’s meeting.
Please note that we are happy to make a representative available to answer any questions that the Board may have and we should be grateful if you would revert at the earliest opportunity following the meeting of the Board.
Yours sincerely,
Forever Bury — Supporters Trust
James Frith — MP for North Bury
Ivan Lewis — MP for South Bury
Andy Burnham — Mayor of Greater Manchester
David Jones — Leader of Bury Council |
So in summary....? |  |
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