Below is the Bury FC benefactors full unedited statement.
As we enter the final few days of voting and as all the stakeholders involved are issuing statements we wanted to reiterate our position of supporting the merger.
Anyone advocating that it is better for either Society to remain separate is taking a huge gamble with the thing they profess to love, whether that is the existing Bury AFC team or Gigg Lane and the prospect of a new team. A gamble where the potential payoff is a feeling that they won an argument. Is it worth it? Aren’t we better than that?
The progress at Gigg Lane has been superb and the team of volunteers who have tirelessly made this happen should be unreservedly commended. Through huge efforts they’ve delivered a great start. Part of our role as benefactors is to guide on the long term strategic view. Our perspective is that this great start has been partly on the back of tremendous goodwill and fresh energy. We’re just 8 months into a lifetime project. The hard reality is people will suffer from “Volunteer Fatigue” and other family/personal priorities will change. This is normal for all community groups. Having as broad a pool of volunteers as possible helps safeguard the future and share the load.
We have less insight to the operations of Bury AFC but from discussions with the management team we understand this has also been their experience, despite undoubted success these last 3 years.
As benefactors our motivation from day one has been to return football in Bury to a permanent home and a home that is used for far more than men’s elite football. This means a community asset available 7 days a week to all that have a need. It is not perfect, nothing ever is, and some issues remain, Women’s football particularly and herein lies a cautionary tale for those expecting the FA to be helpful. But together we can work to solve all problems, divided we risk losing our home and everybody losing the benefits it provides.
We’d encourage everyone who qualifies to vote, to do so, please play your part and do not rely on others. We think the outcome will be close and we strongly advocate for the long term future by voting Yes.”
This statement represents the view of the Bury FC Benefactors. As outlined previously the Bury Football Club Supporters Society will as promised, await the outcome of the vote and will follow the mandate of our members.
