A CONSORTIUM is claiming it has made an "injury time" £950,000 bid to save beleaguered Bury FC from the soccer scrapheap.

Although there is no independent confirmation of the offer, the eight-strong Nearly Red Management and Investment in Sport say the proposed deal could be only days away from being accepted.

The bid comes at a particularly critical time for the Shakers. On Monday (March 4), the club is being taken to the High Court by creditors demanding the repayment of a £1.3 million mortgage loan.

But Nearly Red pledge that if given the go-ahead to buy Bury, they will accept repayment of any outstanding loans.

The consortium says it has tabled the £950,000 bid for the cash-strapped club to London-based lawyers Ashurst Morris Crisp, which has refused to comment.

The company is acting on behalf of the creditors of disgraced former club owner and majority shareholder Hugh Eaves.

And the syndicate also claims the firm has apparently given a favourable response to the offer which has been put in writing.

Yesterday's (Thurs Feb 28) dramatic development comes despite growing scepticism among fans that such a high-powered consortium exists and, if so, that it actually possesses the necessary capital to buy the club.

But speaking on behalf of Nearly Red, lifelong Shakers fan Beau said: "I've supported Bury since I was a boy. Would I, in all seriousness, risk alienating myself from the rest of those who are fans?"

He disclosed a number of supporters had expressed doubts about the planned takeover but insisted the bid was genuine and could be backed up by hard cash.

Commenting on this week's move, Beau explained: "We offered the £950,000 for the club shares and the lawyers said they were highly delighted with that sum.

"When we asked how much they wanted for the club itself, they told me the £950,000 would be all-inclusive.

"They said the sooner this was finalised, the better. I got the impression that if they believed our offer was reasonable, it would be accepted because the creditors are almost getting to the state of nail-biting."

He continued: "The previous Mansport offer would have left creditors with 76p in the £. Ours give them £1 in the £ and more towards expenses.

"If Ashurst Morris Crisp puts our offer to the creditors and it is accepted, then the High Court will be asked to rubber-stamp it."

The bid was tabled after the High Court reportedly lifted its earlier judgment barring Nearly Red from making an offer until other bids had been considered.

Asked when Nearly Red Management could legally move into Gigg Lane, Beau replied: "Possibly at the end of the week after next."

When contacted by the Bury Times, Mr Simon Bromwich from Ashurst Morris Crisp refused to discuss the bid and threatened to hang up.