THE Shakers have been sent a stark warning they may have progressed as far up the football pecking order as possible by the former secretary and accountant of neighbours Oldham Athletic.

Terry Cale’s words of caution may come as a reality check to Gigg Lane supporters demanding greater investment in the team ahead of their second League One campaign, which starts in August.

The 77-year-old who went on to help administer the new Manchester City academy for 18 months after retiring from his post at Boundary Park in 1997, also reckons the financial problems which have afflicted clubs like Leeds United and Glasgow Rangers will eventually affect other big clubs in England who continue to live beyond their means.

“Nothing is for nothing,” said the Greenmount-based Cale, who worked as an industrialist before being invited to join the Latics staff in 1990.

“Investors do not give money to clubs for nothing. Money which goes into a club – often from abroad – is being invested because they want to make money.

“Unless extra shares are floated to increase the capital value of the club, the money is just a loan, and, sooner or later, the investor will want it back.”

Boyhood Manchester United fan Cale cast doubt on Bury chairman Brian Fenton’s aspirations to improve on last season’s 14th-placed League One finish, believing the club and their fans should be grateful for what they have.

“Whatever level a club operates at you must budget to operate with whatever cash is available,” he said. “In Bury’s case, realistically, transfer fees are out of the question, so the playing staff has to come from those players who are released by clubs and are available at affordable wages.

“These can be supplemented by young players on loan from higher division clubs.

“I also believe, having had some knowledge of the Welsh Premier League, that there are players available on a part-time professional contract that are good enough to operate at a higher level.”

Cale – who was with Latics when they became founder members of the current Premier League before they dropped out of it after two years – said that clubs like Bury were wasting their time pursuing a youth policy involving scouting for schoolboys and running teams with the consequent expenses of facilities, travel and kit.

“If you are lucky enough to find a talented boy up to 12 years old, the big clubs will poach him without paying compensation.

“Up to the of 12, schoolboys can change clubs if they want and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

“You have to wait until the lad is 17 and his club does not offer him a professional contract. So Bury’s scouting should be aimed at Academy players.

“The lesson to be learnt is work within your financial limits, be very paitent – especially the supporters – and be grateful for any kind of success.”

Despite Cale’s background as a fan of the famous Manchester United Busby Babes, the club he currently admires the most – for the football and refusal to live beyond their means – is Arsenal and their manager Arsene Wenger.

“They are a very well run club,” he said. “And you have to admire the way Wenger’s team has played consistently over many years.”