ADMINISTRATORS for Bury FC have set a deadline of next Tuesday (April 2) for offers to buy the struggling club.

Although several interested parties have already signalled their intention to save the Shakers, none has so far provided proof of funding.

After next week's deadline expires, administrators RSM Robson Rhodes will assess and evaluate each bid.

This week's encouraging development co-incides with the bleak news that the collapse of ITV Digital will potentially blow a huge hole in the club's finances.

Bury FC joint chairman Mr Fred Mason has disclosed the Shakers could lose much-needed revenue totalling £183,000, its share of ITV Digital's television cash to Nationwide clubs.

"The money was to have been allocated in August and paid out in September," he said.

He added: "Obviously, it will make things more difficult for us and we'll have to make cut backs for next season. That is certain.

"The current situation at the club is that we are trying to put a budget together to attempt to save Bury.

"If we are to go forward, then we need to present cash flow and budget forecasts."

Mr Mason said the potential loss of the £183,000 from ITV Digital would force the club to identify more saving and cost-cutting measures.

"We'll have to have that in mind when we're preparing the budget," he went on. "The ITV Digital money would have come at the right time for us.

"Some other clubs have already borrowed against it. But we are not in that situation.

"This is a very tricky time for everyone and we'll have to adjust our cloth accordingly."

Yesterday (Thurs March 28), joint administrator Mr Matthew Dunham announced that there had been progress in trying to find a buyer for Bury.

"The problem is that we haven't had proof of funding from any of the interested parties," he said.

After Tuesday's deadline, RSM Robson Rhodes will be in a position to assess each bid and identify if the necessary funding is available and can be put in place to rescue the club.

Should any of the offers be backed up by hard cash, then the administrators would hopefully be in a position to make an announcement before the end of the month.

Mr Dunham explained: "Once we've got the offers in place from the interested parties, and we believe they have the funding to support them, then we'll go to the creditors with the proposals and negotiate with them to try to agree a way forward."