A group of Bury FC fans have had their bid to enter a team into the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) rejected.
The Bury Football Club Supporters' Society (BFCSS) applied to join the NWCFL - the 9th and 10th tiers of English football - at the start of the 2023/24 season and wanted to play its matches at the former Football League club's Gigg Lane stadium.
Bury FC were thrown out of the EFL in 2019 amid financial difficulties and later entered administration. In the wake of the club's demise, a group of fans set up a new outfit - Bury AFC. The fan-owned club currently plays in the North West Counties League Premier Division, having won promotion last season.
BFCSS, a separate fan group, purchased Bury FC's name, assets and Gigg Lane stadium last year. They had hoped to enter their own team into the NWCFL - initially under the name Bury Community United Football Club. The group says it eventually hopes to change the name to Bury FC.
However, the group yesterday confirmed that its application had been turned down due to concerns over the club's 'business case'. They claim the league was also unhappy that they submitted their application only five days before the deadline of February 1.
In a statement on its website, BFCSS said it would be appealing the decision and would also be applying to join the West Lancashire League - a feeder to the NWCFL.
However, the group said it feared that application would also be rejected over 'safety concerns' about the large number of supporters it hoped would attend its matches.
Plans to unite the original club's fanbase failed last year after BFCSS members voted against them. Supporters were asked to vote on proposals to merge two fan groups, the Shakers Community Society - which founded Bury AFC - and BFCSS, in a bid to ensure men's football returns to Gigg Lane.
As the original Bury FC remains in administration, the merger would have meant renaming Bury AFC as Bury FC. While Shakers Community Society members backed a merger, a separate poll of BFCSS members fell just short of the two thirds majority required for it to be go ahead.
Bury council had pledged £450,000 alongside a £300,000 government grant to support the new club if the plans went ahead. Council bosses have now said they will not be providing the funding.
BFCSS has since proposed a second merger vote, which the Shakers Community Society says it is open to but wants assurances from BFCSS on a number of key issues.
The NWCFL has been approached for comment.
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