SHAKERS chairman Terry Robinson resigned today ahead of the impending takeover of the struggling Second Division club.

A Manchester-based consortium and the solicitors acting for the plaintiffs of the majority shareholder Hugh Eaves said they have reached terms of agreement.

The agreement is now waiting signature by the consortium. The next step after signing is an application to a judge in Chambers to ratify the sale.

The immediate task for the consortium will be to put a mortgage in place. During this lead in time the club will be dependant on fan fupport and probable sale of player's until the deal has been ratified.

This morning Mr Robinson, who has relinquished all his positions within the club, released the following statement on the club's official website - wwwburyfc.co.uk.

He said: "The last two and a half years have been a very difficult period. The aim of the board has always been to keep the club afloat until new owners have been found. The financial position has seen steady improvement and figures till the end of December 2001 show profitable trading, but the unfortunate loss of Xmas fixtures has increased the financial pressures.

"The board has worked tremendously hard with all involved at the club to arrive at a conclusion to the Eaves saga.

"It has been unfortunate that parties to the sale have not heeded the board's promptings to bring a speedy end to the saga of the ongoing financial problems would not have manifested themselves in such a serious way if a speedier sale had been achieved."

"It is important now for fans to get behind the club and look to the future. It is the help of sponsors and supporters focused on the Bury Times appeal that has raised local awareness. It must continue to achieve permanent stability.

"It will be better for new leadership to come in and start with a clean slate. The facilities at the club are excellent; the ground is superb with a good young squad.

"I have been privileged to have been associated with the club but it has now reached the stage for me to go. The purchase of the Eaves shares is now imminent and I feel I can do no more.