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League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 6:17 am
by Bluemike
There is the real threat that League One could be reduced to just 23 clubs today as Bury face expulsion from the EFL.

The Gigg Lane club have yet to play a competitive game this season, with their first six suspended while the EFL wait for owner Steve Dale to provide assurances he has a financial plan for the club going forward or to sell the club.

Dale has missed several deadlines to provide those assurances this summer although the Bury owner, who bought the club for £1 in December, insists he has submitted all the relevant evidence to the EFL.

Bury have already been given a 12-point deduction and have been placed under a transfer embargo, preventing them signing any more players following a summer which has seen an exodus from the squad which won promotion from League Two just a few weeks ago.

Club staff and players say they have not been paid.

Much of the club's financial trouble is as a result of over-spending under previous owner Stewart Day, who spent big and brought in players from higher divisions in a bid to move up the leagues.

There has been talk of a possible take over which has yet to come to fruition and a short stay of execution could be granted today in order for a deal to be completed.

However, unless the EFL are satisfied with the club's financial plan by midnight, they face the real threat of being thrown out of the Football League after 125 years of membership.

If that was to happen League One would be reduced to 23 clubs with the number of relegation places reduced from four to three. Four teams would still be promoted from League Two, meaning a full compliment of 24 clubs in the third tier next season.

An EFL statement reads: "The EFL Board continues to be frustrated at the lack of significant progress that has been made by Mr Dale in providing the information required. However, we will continue to work with the current ownership in an attempt to achieve a resolution ahead of the Notice of Withdrawal deadline of Friday 23 August.

"It remains in regular communication with Mr Dale but if a solution is not found by the deadline, the Board will authorise the necessary share transfer on behalf of Bury FC which shall be legally binding on all parties and result, regretfully, in the Club no longer being a member of the League.


"Should this happen, Bury's record from the 2019/20 season would be expunged with League One consisting of 23 Clubs for the remainder of the campaign and the number of relegation places reduced to three at the conclusion of 2019/20 season. Four promotion places would remain from League Two ensuring a full complement of 24 teams in League One in 2020/21.

"Bury would then be free to make an application to the Football Association to re-join league competition further down the English football pyramid from season 2020/21."

Ipswich are due to host Bury on November 2 and travel to Gigg Lane on March 28.

Such a shame but there in itself is what overspending beyond your means can do, be careful what you wish for.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 12:01 pm
by marko69
Yes, heard this on Radio 2 earlier. They had a lifelong Bury fan on. Devastating stuff.

They’ve still got 12 hours though. I wouldn’t put money on them going to the wall just yet. Last minute hero might still step in.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 8:55 pm
by marko69
Decided to google search Bury FC latest news....., a 5 Live interview came on with a twitter comments page. Wow! I think every one on that twitter feed would be banned on TB.com within an hour. 😳 Either that or they’re just very very upset with Mr Steve “Fit & Proper” Dale.

Cue the “how would you like it?” ....., posts. Back in 89 ——> hated it. Can feel their pain.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 10:19 pm
by Frosty
Accordinging to the current owner Day on the radio (or wireless), Bury have been sold.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 11:22 am
by marko69
Yep. and the bookies lost a few quid on that one. Was a tad obvious that there’d be a buyer at the 11th hour.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 1:22 pm
by BLUEBLOOD
I bet dale made a few quid betting

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 9:03 pm
by lucy

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 4:43 pm
by Quasar
A post has just gone up on Bury Town FC webpage - saying that CCTV has been installed and NOONE is allowed entry to the ground and all crime/theft will be reported, Sounds like thats it for them then !

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 5:24 pm
by marko69
Quasar wrote:
Tue Aug 27, 2019 4:43 pm
.......CCTV has been installed.....
Who the F paid for that? Thats no cheap.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 11:45 pm
by Dazzz67
They have indeed just gone, sad day for football and all associated with Bury FC.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:11 am
by marko69
Dazzz67 wrote:
Tue Aug 27, 2019 11:45 pm
They have indeed just gone, sad day for football and all associated with Bury FC.
Yes it is indeed a sad day for football. Watched a few breaking news videos on the news there after your post, Dazzz. Tugs on the heart strings listening to those lifelong fans speaking about feeling lost. Can't comprehend what that'd be like.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:20 am
by arana peligrosa
Doesn't mean they're extinct though ? Just expeled from the Football League and no longer a professional club ? It's not as if they've gone the way of dinosaurs and should return in some capacity in the time ahead.

Yes it's unfortunate, I do sympathize, it's hard not to, but they must have had chances to address the situation or avert this scenario. I don't ever recall them in the top league, maybe they never were, but know they featured in the biggest score in an FA Cup Final back in the 1900's although can't remember who the opposition were or if they won or lost on that occasion.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:42 am
by marko69
Ah right. I thought they were "no more". So they're still a club, just booted out the EFL? Ah well, thats not as bad as it seems.

1903 Cup Final by the way, 6-0 v Derby County. Held that record for yonks, Citeh equalled it last year.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 7:26 am
by BLUEBLOOD
Just read this about Bury for Next Season.
Bury would then be free to make an application to the Football Association to re-join league competition further down the English football pyramid from season 2020/21.
I think this is what Rangers had to do in 2012.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:04 am
by nicscreamer
I have no doubt Bury will be liquidated over the winter and a new club formed. So as such, they will be dead and re born further down the leagues.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:12 am
by marko69
BLUEBLOOD wrote:
Wed Aug 28, 2019 7:26 am
Just read this about Bury for Next Season.
Bury would then be free to make an application to the Football Association to re-join league competition further down the English football pyramid from season 2020/21.
I think this is what The Sevco Rangers had to do in 2012 as a completely new organisation.
Fixed that, buddy.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:36 pm
by trimleyblue
Does that mean we get a refund on our season ticket?

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 10:31 pm
by Charnwood
At least Bolton have managed to survive, a club more akin to our own ITFC, but what this has shown is just how fragile football club finances are once you fall below Premiership & Championship levels.

Our priority has to be to bounce back ASAP, as the longer we remain below this level the greater our risk of going under unless finances are strictly controlled which is something fans never like.

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 10:40 pm
by Bluemike
Some fans

Re: League One Reduced To Twenty Three teams ???

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:00 pm
by Ando
trimleyblue wrote:
Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:36 pm
Does that mean we get a refund on our season ticket?
Your point highlights the fact that all remaining clubs will loose Matchday revenue probably 100-150 k for us