Bury FC 'will not end up going back to the dark age' as Bury Council urges fans to agree to back a merger between two supporters’ societies.

At a cabinet meeting this week, Bury Council agreed it will commit £450,000 in funding to Bury FC if members of two fan-run societies vote in favour of the proposed merger.

The proposal, announced this month, asks members to back a former merger of Bury Football Club Supporters Society Ltd (BFCSS) and Shakers Community Society Ltd with the aim of bringing men's elite football back to Gigg Lane.

Shakers Community Society Ltd is a community benefit society that established Bury AFC while BFCSS represents fans of Bury FC.

The commitment was agreed in principle by the council in January, but is subject to criteria including a business plan for how the money would be used and proposal that “delivered community benefit.”

Cllr Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy said: “Thanks to a lot of work, mainly by the supporters’ society, others and colleagues from the council, I’m pleased to say that we are confident that where those criteria have not yet been met they are on the way to being met.”

“Its not for us to tell members of the supporters’ societies what to do but we have urged them to take a real good look at the proposals that are on the table and we would urge fans to come together for a moment of unity.”

Cllr Morris continued: “Time now to come together with what I think is a sustainable, realistic and optimistic plan to hopefully see men’s elite football back at Gigg Lane.”

The councillor noted that Bury FC Foundation Women's team had already made its return to the stadium in the spring.

Cllr Alan Quinn also welcomed the proposal and added that the club’s future depended on unity between the two societies who 'need to agree'.

He said:“There has to be recognition between the two groups of supporters, they have to merge.

“It is a fan led football club, in Bury, back in this town playing first class football that will not end up going back to the dark days of where they’ve been.

“The fans can control it, the fans own it, and that is what we need.”

The merger, if agreed upon, would see both societies fold and transfer their assets into a new community benefit society.

In statement published earlier this month, A spokesperson for Bury AFC said: “We have a shared long-term vision of restoring professional football to Bury.

“We know the club must be run in a financially responsible and sustainable way.

“We believe that the best way to achieve this is under the historic name of Bury Football Club, and by improving and enhancing Gigg Lane as the spiritual home of football in Bury.”

A spokesperson for BFCSS said: "In 2022, we now have the opportunity to bring elite football back to Gigg Lane under the name Bury Football Club, which is an extraordinary achievement in such a short space of time.

"We know the club must be run in a financially responsible and sustainable way.

"We believe that the best way to achieve this is under the historic name of Bury Football Club, and by improving and enhancing Gigg Lane as the spiritual home of football in Bury.

"This paper, and the process which follows, sets out what we believe is the way to achieve this."