BURY have been given hope of life after death after EFL chiefs agreed to give the remaining 71 league sides their say in the future of the Gigg Lane outfit.
Local MP James Frith and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have called on the EFL to consider resubmitting Bury as a League Two club next season.
And SunSport has been told the EFL have until February 1 to make an application to the FA for Bury to re-enter the Football League next season.
Usually Bury would not be allowed to come back higher than the SEVENTH tier of English football.
But that could change providing there are (a) exceptional circumstances, (b) a vacancy within its constitution, (c) the club meets the entry criteria and (d) promotion and relegation issues have been satisfied.
It would also rely on the EFL’s goodwill in making the application in the first place.
It appears that if all three of these criteria are met and then it will be down to Bury to meet the EFL’s entry criteria.
The club – promoted to League One in the summer – were booted out of the Football League last week after failing to meet the EFL’s final deadline to show proof of funds, with unpaid debts and wages stretching back for months.
SunSport can also reveal that Bury have a potential new owner if they allowed back into the Football League.
SJ Global who failed in a last-minute £7million bid to save the Shakers a week ago are still interested in buying the club.
Brazilian principle owner Gustavo Ferreira, worth a personal fortune of $550m and part owner of a gold mine remains convinced he could turn the club into a successful money-maker.
The February 1 deadline would allow the Shakers time to get their house in order — either under current owner Steve Dale or a new incumbent.
But despite the door opening for Bury, EFL bosses say the FA will decide where the Shakers will play after their membership was withdrawn last week.
In a statement, the EFL said the “only current established procedure” for entry to League Two is through promotion for the National League.
But it added that “the extreme nature of the problems” at Bury meant the EFL board had “agreed it is appropriate to discuss the matter with member clubs”, with talks set to take place in the next few weeks.
That position puts the onus on the other 71 clubs to blink after Bury’s departure was agreed by them last week.
League chiefs pulled the plug when potential owners C & N Sporting Risk pulled out of negotiations after studying the club’s books.
Dale had been ordered to deliver proof that he had the £2.7m required to pay the club;s preferred creditors and meet running costs.
And, in what is a further sign of the difficulty of handing Bury a lifeline, the EFL warned: “Clear evidence would be required of the Club’s financial viability and its ability to fulfil its ongoing commitments.”
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed a report of fraud was made on June 18 and a probe was ongoing. No arrests have so far been made.
