Government will do "whatever it can" to save Bury FC, says minister

The Government has promised to "do whatever it can" to help Bury Football Club, a minister has said.

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg told MPs that he had been told by another minister that "the Government is going to try and help" Bury following a campaign to save the club.

His comments followed local Tory MP James Daly's (Bury North) calls for a debate on how the English Football League "are an organisation who are clearly not fit for purpose".

Bury FC were expelled from League One in August 2019 after months of financial problems.

Steve Dale bought the club from Stewart Day for £1 in December 2018.

However, the club was already in financial trouble when Mr Dale took over, with players and staff being paid late up until they were thrown out of the league on August 28 after a takeover bid collapsed.

In February, an independent review concluded that any additional action by the English Football League (EFL) to try to help save Bury FC "would not have made any difference to the eventual outcome".

Mr Daly said: "Would Mr Rees-Mogg find time for a debate on the how the English Football League must do more to protect the interest of fans and towns like Bury from unscrupulous club owners?

"The recent EFL report stating that the football league could not have saved Bury FC defied belief and they are an organisation who are clearly not fit for purpose.

"We must ensure that other clubs and their friends are protected and not sold out like Bury FC."

Mr Rees-Mogg replied: "I commend Mr Daly for his campaign to save Bury Football Club which he's been an absolute leader in.

"But I can give him good news, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Robert Jenrick) has whispered to me that the Government is going to try and help to do whatever it can to help Bury Football Club.

"So, action is being taken by some authorities, if not by the Football League."