Bury FC have taken a huge step towards returning football to Gigg Lane after Bury Supporters' Society on Sunday confirmed the club is now out of administration and the stadium has been purchased following a takeover.
The Shakers were expelled from the Football League in 2019 and folded. In January, fans moved closer to regaining control of their old stadium, Gigg Lane, after contracts were exchanged.
But the latest development is a positive one for the comeback of Bury FC as they move a step closer to returning to the football pyramid. A fan-led takeover has been new life to the club with the Supporters Society owning 51 per cent of the club and the fans the remaining 49%.
READ MORE: Cheers, tears and celebrations as football returns to Gigg Lane for first time in three years
In their statement published to Bury FCSS saying: "After Bury Football Club Supporters’ Society successfully rallied together to buy Gigg Lane, and the intellectual property, history and memorabilia of Bury Football Club out of administration, The Shakers are finally coming back after their tragic expulsion from the English Football League in 2019.
"With the help of generous benefactors, the club is now in safe hands. Using the successful German model of 51:49 ownership, we (the Supporters’ Society) make up the 51% majority while the benefactors, Bury fans themselves, are the 49%.
"The club and stadium can never fall out of our hands again and we are now working hard to bring elite men’s football back to the town through negotiations with the FA. It is our aim that we come back bigger and stronger than ever so we have drawn up plans to make Gigg Lane a community hub for the town seven days a week.
"Gigg Lane has already been used as a storage facility for donations to the Ukraine crisis, but we are now beginning works on a community gymnasium. Further intended works include office, clinic and well-being space as well as an artificial playing surface for football to become at the heart of the community all week.
"Through hard work and an amazing army of volunteers, we have restored Gigg Lane so that Bury FC Foundation Women can end their promotion-chasing season in front of the fans at Gigg Lane. However we don’t want to just restore it but redevelop it to become more than it was before...
"...This is the beginning of a very exciting return for the Shakers and we can’t wait to show you the progress over the coming year," the statement concluded.
