A fan-led attempt to return Bury FC to life has taken a great step forward after the government pledged £1m towards a bid to buy back Gigg Lane.
The funding, announced as part of the Community Ownership Fund run by the Department for Levelling Up, will be matched against money raised by a consortium of bidders led by two supporters’ groups and the US-based benefactor Peter Alexander. Sources close to the deal say they hope it will now be completed imminently.
The purchase of Gigg Lane would herald the possibility of Bury returning to competition at the start of the 2022-23 season, three years after the club went into liquidation. It would also see the stadium transformed into a community hub with an all-weather pitch and gym installed for public use and the redevelopment of the Manchester Road stand to accommodate NHS services.
Matthew Pickup of the Est 1885 supporters’ group, which has helped drive the proposed deal, said a return to Gigg Lane was “agonisingly close”.
“This funding will allow us the opportunity to complete the purchase of Gigg Lane in order to bring football back to its historic home after a nearly three-year hiatus,” he said. “There are still a few steps left in the process and we hope to provide a further update in the coming days when the legalities have been completed but we thank all the fans for their continued support.”
Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up said: “The collapse of Bury FC is a stain on English football and the result of the game being ripped out of the hands of the supporters and communities who made it what it is by big business and corporate interest.
“I pay enormous tribute to Bury’s supporters, who have shown incredible resolve in their fight to bring their beloved club back to life. By helping rescue the historic Gigg Lane stadium, we are helping to put power back into their hands and securing a cherished asset for the wider community.”
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Further negotiations over the bid will now take place between the bidders and Bury council, which has committed to contributing funds to the deal. Tamoor Tariq, the deputy leader of Bury council said: “This is an important day but we need to renew our efforts to get over the line.”
If a deal is done an application must then be submitted to the Football Association for a return to competition, and a specific division agreed for the club to compete in.