Two fan-led football groups in Bury are preparing to launch a new society following a successful vote to amalgamate.

Bury Football Club Supporters Society (BFCSS) and Bury AFC’s Shakers’ Community Society announced last week they are preparing to launch a new society after fans voted in favour of merging the two groups.

The existing societies are urging fans to sign up as members of either society ahead of a vote to establish a new board, which will run both existing societies as well as a new society, called The Football Supporters Society of Bury.

Both BFCSS and the Shaker’s Community Society will continue to exist while the process of amalgamation is ongoing, and new society will be formed subject to approval by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

READ MORE: Charity boxing match huge success for Rammy Restart a Heart

The societies have also confirmed they are applying to the Football Association (FA) to use the playing name Bury Football Club.

An interim board, comprised of members of both existing societies, including BFCSS Vice Chair Alistair Rowe, and Shaker’s Community Society Chair Phil Young, will manage the societies until a new board is elected.

In a join statement, the societies said: “We are pleased to announce that the confirmatory vote for the amalgamation has been passed by both societies and we can now move on to the next stage of the process to apply to use the playing name Bury Football Club and progress the legal work required to amalgamate the two societies and form one membership, and launch a vote to establish the new Society board.

“There is a huge amount of work to be done to get us ready to play at Gigg Lane. We look forward to welcoming you all down there in future.

“The interim board are first prioritising the work which needs to happen to ensure we can play league fixtures at Gigg Lane next season.”

READ MORE: NWCL on lookout for new clubs to expand further in 2024

The societies say the new membership model will change from one which is solely use to donate funds into the club for shares into one that owns a community asset.

Membership allows fans to elect society board members influence kit designs and be kept up to date with society matters.

Earlier this month, the overwhelming majority of members from both societies voted in favour of an amalgamation between BFCSS and the Shaker’s Community Society.

The vote was the second merger referendum to take place. Last October, an initial vote saw the proposals fail to pass by just 3.7 per cent.