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Bury AFC reveal stance on Gigg Lane stadium

Bury AFC reveal their stance on potentially securing the Gigg Lane stadium with the club currently groundsharing with Radcliffe.

The newly formed club has announced it is looking at options for a “purpose built stadium” if they cannot acquire Gigg Lane.

The club, which came following the financial collapse of Bury FC, played just seven games last season before their North West Counties League First Division North campaign was stopped and postponed due to the Covid pandemic.

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The phoenix club played its home games at Radcliffe FC’s Neuven Stadium and officials have confirmed they will return their again for the forthcoming season.

However, they are aiming to find a ground of their own and with the future of Gigg Lane still uncertain, they are exploring other options going forward.

“We know that at a certain point, our current groundshare arrangement will set a natural limit on our ability to generate revenue,” said a spokesperson for the club in a lengthy statement on the Bury AFC website. “In turn, this will limit our progress through the leagues and into professional football.

“We do need a ground strategy, and have now approached Bury Council to understand their appetite to support it. They have agreed to assist us by providing some of their expertise to help us produce a robust business plan which supports our ambitions and evidences its financial sustainability.

“We are also exploring whether we can access a small amount of funding to start this project.”

Administrators confirmed in May 2021 that Gigg Lane was on the market, and the ground, which has been Bury FC’s since the club was founded in 1885, is one of the world’s oldest professional football stadiums and has a capacity of 12,500. Surely they can’t knock it down with it still in a good condition?!

‘Unconditional offers’ are being look at for the entire 6.4-acre stadium site, which also includes the ticket office and club shop.

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Metro Mayor Andy Burnham has promised to work with Bury Council leader Councillor Eamonn O’Brien and local MPs to have the site.

James Daly, Bury North MP, has pledged to use specific government funding to make the purchase, as Gigg Lane could be classified as a community asset with Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP, backing his fellow Conservative on a recent visit to the ground.

“We know many fans will ask if this is simply a question of acquiring Gigg Lane and moving in as soon as possible. It is not,” continued the statement. “We have agreed to look at a minimum of two options. “This is essential if we are to demonstrate that credible, commercial thinking sits behind our bid and is required by the Council.

“One will be a modernised Gigg Lane, the other will be a new, purpose-built stadium in Bury. We know our fans will have their own preferences and, again, our members’ views will be obtained electronically once the options are more fully developed.”

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Despite their controversial birth, Bury AFC benefits from selling more than 2,000 replica shirts, while they also have more than 1,600 members paying £60 a year for membership as they look set to play what will hopefully be their first full proper season as a club.

“Gigg Lane is one of the oldest grounds in the country,” said the statement. “Its history evokes emotion, but it is limited in its ability to generate income outside match days.

“We believe it will be essential to explore ways of modernising the ground to ensure it produces predictable revenues during the working week. This, along with the problems created by the car park leases, takes the capital outlay required to operate Gigg Lane sustainably much greater than the purchase price alone.

“A new stadium avoids many of the problems involved in converting old to new, but comes with its own challenges. A location would need to be found. Whilst maintenance costs might be lower, the initial capital required would be higher and it would need both the agreement of any residents and acceptance from Bury fans.”

The club also raised the question of whether the ground is a based on a commercial or community asset model.

 
 
 
 
 
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“There are many things we cannot control, including the sale of Gigg Lane to a private buyer,” concludes the statement. “However, we believe this offers the best chance of progress.

“Bury Council has not been presented with a business plan from any other group or individual to date. “We believe there is an opportunity to bring in voices from outside Bury AFC to contribute and discuss the plans as they evolve, provided they are prepared to accept the principles outlined here, and by Bury Council, including the need to evidence financial sustainability and examine an option other than Gigg Lane. To this end we will form a working group and invite other representatives to attend once established.

“Our next steps will be to agree the initial funding required for the first part of the planning process with Bury Council, obtain external funding where available, and ask members to vote if we recommend use of our own funds.”

Fans reacted as Bury AFC reveal their stance on the Gigg Lane stadium, see what was tweeted below..

@__Michael_Prior (to Bury AFC): Fantastic statement, the ground really is the last piece of the puzzle and it’s good to know the wheels are in motion.

@johnwiggans7: Transparency right there no BS or pie in the sky dreams. Excellent statement spells out the realism of the situation.

@BoringStockport: Anyone that thinks old Bury can be saved now is deluded. Thankfully you’re phoenix club is in place now and Steve Dale does the right thing and hands over the keys to gigg Lane before it’s knocked down for a housing estate

@puffpuff65: Hope Bury AFC can sort out a permanent ground, Wanna visit them at Radcliffe FC. Enjoyed my 2 visits to Gigg Lane especially the Rochdale Game

@RebeccaHindle_C: I really liked your statement when I read it in my email and I still think it’s really good you have sensible plan put in place #buryafc

@ianmcke53515957: Think it would be better AFC building their own stadium and leave Gigg Lane alone

@MarkDun82809852: Surely its cheaper to save the existing one tho.

@shakercpg79: Where’s ‘keep the Faith for bury fc’.

@G5Irv: I dont want AFC anywhere near Gigg lane. They are not Bury FC they are not the Shakers.

@Groundbopping: Guy – would you prefer AFC on Gigg Lane or the land to be turned into houses? I’m not an AFC fan or being aggressive, just interested. Those are the 2 options with the highest chances. Straight up answer between those 2?

@G5Irv: I would prefer Bury Fc or a true Phoenix club. Not a breakaway protest club. I find it amazing that people do not realise the damage that AFC has done.

@mikescal: Not the damage day and dale have caused? Afc are a pure consequence of their handy work. In all honesty what could have been done to wrestle the club /ground from the current owner. Hand on heart I think most think not much.

@G5Irv: Obviously it’s Day and Dale, jeeze…. AFC was formed a season or two too early.

@jonny_bass: AFC was told to start by the fans and backed by Forever Bury 🤦🏻 Only so many times you can re write the narrative to suit the argument

@Clarkeyy106: Bollocks to AFC James. Bury FC or nothing. I thought you were helping the shakers?

@Ludd1885: Oof bet this convinced him

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