BURY are looking to build a new stadium, the club and local council have confirmed.

Shakers chairman Stewart Day revealed plans to move from Gigg Lane, where Bury have been based since 1885, at the club's end-of-season dinner.

And Cllr Rishi Shori, leader of Bury Council, said talks had been held with the club's directors about a possible site.

“The council recognises the importance of the football club to the life of the borough and we have always been pleased to work in partnership with them," said Cllr Shori.

"We know that they are ambitious and we have recently assisted the club in their search for possible sites for a new stadium.

"We are now waiting for the club to produce a detailed business plan before we talk to them again.”

Day said earlier this month that he had held talks with the council about building a new ground within a “close proximity” of the current stadium.

Gigg Lane has been home to the Shakers for 131 years but the chairman believes the current set-up cannot help the club make the step up to the next level.

Day harbours ambitions of bringing Championship football to Bury, and he says an opportunity has arisen to possibly set the plans in motion.

“The stadium isn't good enough, it's as simple as that,” Day explained. “It's not (good enough) for where we want to be as a football club.

“It doesn't give us enough income away from the match day. We are reliant upon match-day income and it's difficult.

“It's something we are looking at. We have spoken to the council quite a lot and they are in support of what we are trying to do.

“There is an opportunity to build a new stadium within a close proximity (of Gigg Lane).

"That's something we are looking at, to try to build a new stadium, and if that was to come off then I'm sure that can be the catalyst to progress this football club further.”

Day would like to follow the blueprint laid down by Chesterfield, who moved to their new Proact Stadium in 2010 and have since been able to hold events, such as pop concerts and weddings.

He added: “Chesterfield had about 35 corporate tables in just one of the rooms, then they had another room where there was about 25 corporate tables and it makes it difficult. We have got probably five or six to sell. While we are thankful we have got that, it is just not enough.

“I want to be part of a club that is moving forward.

“To do that, we haven't got the facilities that other clubs have got, we haven't got the function rooms that other clubs have got.”

Day also underlined the importance of further investment as the club struggles to boost home attendances – their other main source of income.

“To compete in League One and to compete at higher levels we need to bring in more regular income,” Day admitted.

“Otherwise, the way the financial fair play is designed, the club's with big attendances will be top of the table.

“It makes it difficult to try to beat them. We all want to win on a Saturday, and it makes it difficult to compete if that investment does not go in.”