EXCLUSIVE by Chris Hall: THE multi-millionaire owner of Sale Sharks rugby union club says he will know by the end of the week whether to make a bid to save crisis club Bury FC.

Shakers were given a seven-day stay of execution by the High Court on Friday but they still urgently need to find a buyer to avoid heading into liquidation.

Now Brian Kennedy has admitted his interest in wiping out the club's £1.3m debts and taking control of the Gigg Lane outfit to further the development of his Zurich Premiership side.

Sale, who do not own their existing Heywood Road home, are on the lookout for a bigger stadium to cater for their expanding fan base and have yet to secure a move despite looking into buying Manchester City's Maine Road ground, Stockport's Edgely Park and joining Warrington RLFC in a purpose-built arena.

And Kennedy, worth over £200million from his successful mobile phone, double glazing and kitchen businesses, has ordered a report on the viability of ploughing some of that cash into the financially crippled Third Division outfit.

"I had a look at Bury a couple of weeks ago but I haven't taken it much further than that yet," he said.

"My financial advisors are still looking into the details and I should get some information back next week.

"The thing that attracted me to the possibility of buying the club was the stadium. Sale Sharks are looking for a big stadium and someone mentioned to me that Bury was looking for a buyer. But the investigation is still in its early stages.

"I'm definitely not ruling out making a bid. I haven't seen anything yet that would either persuade or dissuade me from making an offer."

RSN Robson Rhodes were hoping to be granted a month's extension to their administration period today but lawyer David Mohyuddin said an "unforeseen problem" had arisen late last night and the case was adjourned.

He said at the next hearing, which is expected to take place in Liverpool, "administrators should be in a position to actually give the court some concrete information".

They remain hopeful that a rescue package will be in place within four weeks to keep the cash-strapped 117-year-old club alive.

Shakers have had to cut no fewer than eight players, including Sam Collins, Paul Reid, Matt Murphy and Bhaichung Bhutia, from their already tight squad list to survive the drop in revenue caused by relegation to Division Three.

But manager Andy Preece was hopeful he would be afforded more cash to bring in fresh blood.

"We have worked on a worst case scenario with the figures and hopefully, when a deal is done, some money may be available for players," he said.

"But nothing can be guaranteed as it stands now, TV money can't be included and we aren't prepared to talk ifs and buts - that is risk taking."

"The experienced players were on the most money and we just couldn't afford to keep them, there wasn't too much of a decision to be made.

"Sam has been a good servant to the club and Reidy has always been 100 per cent committed and never let me down.

"In the season he was with us it didn't really work out for Matt (Murphy) while Baichung (Bhutia) has been unlucky with injury."