Bury AFC members can now vote as part of merger plans which could see the club change its name to Bury Football Club and move to Gigg Lane.

In a statement published on Bury AFC's website on Thursday, the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) said it had not yet seen a "viable and sustainable alternative to the merger" between Bury FC and Bury AFC in the bid to bring professional men’s football back to the town.

The association said further funding for Bury FC could not be guaranteed if the clubs’ two fan-run society groups did not vote in favour of operating as one.

The two groups, Bury FC Supporters’ Society (BFCSS) and the Shaker’s Community Society, announced the merger plans in July after the council agreed to commit £450,000 to Bury FC if the two clubs unified.

The plan aims to help restore professional men’s football to the town after Bury Football Club were expelled from the English Football League in 2019 following long running financial difficulties.

The statement on Thursday added: “A vote against the merger will most likely result in the loss of around £2m in external funding, which is critical to delivery of the business plan presented.

“There is no evidence this could be sourced elsewhere. We believe it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to access this capital.

“The non-delivery of the community usage which the £1m of government matched funding was predicated on also puts that funding at risk and the terms would need to be renegotiated."

In not backing the merger, the FSA said Bury FC would face taking a ‘backward step".

The statement said: “The FSA believes that the best route to restoring senior men’s football playing at Gigg Lane is for the members of BFCSS and Shakers Community Society to vote for a merger between the two organisations.

“Without a merger the project to re-establish Bury FC will take a backward step.

"The council offer of £450k of funding will be lost and additional future funding restricted or threatened.

“Without a merger Bury AFC will continue to play at Radcliffe FC and Gigg Lane will be left without a senior men’s team.

“Should BFCSS decide to create a men’s team playing football at Gigg Lane next season (2023-24) a new club will need to be set up.

"It is the FSA’s understanding that a new club would not immediately be eligible to apply for the Bury Football Club playing name and would begin life outside of the National League System in a county league.”

Then, in another statement published on Bury AFC's website yesterday, Friday, the club announced voting on the merger plans are now open ahead of two "special general meetings".

Addressing Bury AFC members, a club spokesman said: "The Shakers Community board are recommending that we move to Gigg Lane and change our playing name to Bury Football Club, and to do this we need to ‘amalgamate’ with Bury FC Supporters’ Society. These are the three motions you are asked to approve.

"The new community benefit society will remain in control of both the club and the stadium through it’s voting rights."

Voting will take place online before the "special general meetings" which will be available to view on the platform Zoom on Friday, October 28 and Friday, November 11, which will both start at 7.30pm.

The club said the reason for holding a second meeting is to confirm the verdict given in the first meeting.

Only "paying adult members" are allowed to vote and there will be no voting at the meetings.