Backers of a merger between two fan-led football societies have criticised a "convoluted voting system" after the proposals were rejected.

Six benefactors, including California-based businessman and lifelong Shakers’ fan, Peter Alexander, have blamed a "convoluted voting system" for the failure of a merger between the Bury FC Supporters’ Society and AFC’s Shakers’ Community Society.

In a joint statement, Peter Alexander, along with Ian Pickup, Ian Harrop, David Manchester, Matt Barker and Derek Calrow OBE said they would continue to support the return of league football to Gigg Lane.

They said: “As the principal benefactors who enabled the purchase of the Bury FC Gigg Lane Stadium to take place, we express our great disappointment that due to a convoluted voting system a minority of Bury FC Supporters have been able to veto the wishes of AFC Bury and the majority of Bury FC Supporters in merging the two groups of dedicated Shakers supporters to return football to Gigg Lane.

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“As benefactors, we will continue to give our support to achieve what the vast majority of Shakers, be they AFC Bury or Bury FC Supporters wish for, namely League Football back at Gigg Lane."

Members of both societies were asked by the Football Supporters’ Association to vote in favour of a proposed amalgamation of the two societies in the hope of bringing elite men’s football back to Bury.

The plans were revealed in July after Bury Council pledged £450,000 in funding to a unified Bury FC.

The result was announced on Friday, October 28, following a “special general meeting” which revealed 62.9 per cent of the 771 BFCSS member who took part in the vote were in favour of the merger.

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The result was 3.7 per cent short of the two thirds majority (66.6 per cent) needed for the amalgamation to be successful.

The vast majority (94 per cent) of Shakers Community Society members, equating to 1,003 people, were in favour of the deal.

Reacting to the news last week, council leader, Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, and Cllr Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy expressed their disappointment over the result.

It a joint statement, they said: “We are disappointed by the result of the vote, which was a golden opportunity to unite Bury’s football fans and work together to bring elite football back to Bury at its historic Gigg Lane home.

“The council’s financial support of up to £450,000 was always conditional upon a merger, and a viable business case in support of Gigg Lane.

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"We take our responsibility to the appropriate use of public money very seriously and we have always made clear our belief that bringing together the football fanbase in Bury, united behind one team, is the most sensible and sustainable way forward to guarantee the future of the stadium as a footballing venue and a community asset.

"Unfortunately, in the absence of a merger, a revised business case for Gigg Lane is needed and therefore the council will now not be making that funding available.

“However, this does not need to be the end of the journey. The vote shows that the overwhelming number of Shakers Community Society members (94 per cent) were in favour of the merger, and a clear majority (63 per cent) – albeit short of the required 66 per cent - of Bury Football Club Supporters’ Society members were too.

“This demonstrates that there is still a desire by the vast majority of fans to see how a new future for football in Bury can be achieved.

"We are happy to have further discussions with all concerned parties on the way forward, and we will try to bring all parties together as soon as possible.”