BURY FC are confident the club can still be saved after being given a two-week stay of execution just 72 hours before their D-day in the High Court.

Creditors were due to recoup their share of a £1million mortgage on Monday by forcing the sale of Shakers' Gigg Lane ground and ultimately bringing about the end of the 117-year-old club.

But Manchester-based lawyers RSM Robson Rhodes have stepped in at the last minute to freeze all legal proceedings for a period of two weeks while they attempt to secure outside investment which will guarantee Bury's survival.

The plan was unveiled at a press conference yesterday, where joint administrator Matthew Dunham was confident there was light at the end of the tunnel, despite only having a fortnight to find a buyer for the shares of former owner Hugh Eaves.

"It is an incredibly short amount of time to get things sorted out but we only have enough cash to continue playing for the next two weeks," he said.

"I'm responsible to make sure the club doesn't take on any liabilities which they can't afford during my time here. We have enough money to pay everyone for the next fortnight but that's it.

"If we don't find any money in that two weeks then that won't be good news. The administration order will be discharged and it is likely that the club will go into liquidation.

"So it's crucial that we get the support of the fans over the next two home games to keep the team playing until the end of the season and beyond. We need to raise between three and £4,000 to get us through to the end of the season.

"We see this as an extremely positive move for the club, which gives us breathing space to find that funding. And we are hopeful that we can complete all the fixtures and set the club on a firm footing for the future."

Shakers co-chairman Fred Mason said talks were still being held with Turkish businessman Alex Tarsus and lifelong Bury fan Beau but appealed for other interested parties to show themselves - and quick!

"We think we have gone to the top lawyers in the country and everyone at the club has deliberated long and hard before coming to this decision," he said.

"But I would have hated to have turned up at Gigg Lane on Monday to find the gate was locked. That's how bad the situation was.

"We say we've only got two weeks but after that period, we can still go back and get an extension if we can show the courts that we are making progress. I think the club will go on after that.

"Now we're asking all interested parties to make themselves known so that, within the next two weeks, we will be able to take matters forward positively."