Shakers given stay of execution

Bury face a court hearing in two weeks that could force them into extinction.

The Shakers have been placed in administration after creditors demanded payment on a ?1m mortgage and Matt Dunham, the club's joint administrator, faces another court appearance in a fortnight that could signal the end of the club.

"I've got to go back to the court in two weeks to try to get the administration extended to the end of the season," he said. "If we don't get that then we would go into liquidation and we would probably have to stop playing immediately."

But Dunham is keen to stress this is a worst-case scenario, which can probably be avoided because of the preventative measures the club have already taken.

"We've made the decision to go into administration because it offers us a two-week breathing space," he said. "There was going to be a hearing on Monday and if we had lost that then our ground would have been taken away. That's been postponed now."

Going into administration has guaranteed Bury's short-term survival, but their future is by no means secure. "I have enough cash to guarantee the next two weeks, but not any longer than that," said Dunham.

"It's a step to give us some time to put into place plans to give us funding until the end of the season. Now we're going to talk with interested parties - it's not an impossible mountain we've got to climb."

Two interested parties have already made themselves known to Dunham and he will enter into intense negotiations with them over the next fortnight.

"There are two potential interested parties and I'm hopeful we will generate interest with them and other people who can take the club forward," he said.

"The main thing is to get the funding to take us through to the end of the season. But we also need the supporters to turn out and give us full gates in our next two home league games."