A SECOND consortium is bidding to take over beleaguered Bury Football Club in a £15 million deal.

The Bury Times can exclusively reveal that three cheques have been lodged with the High Court for the shareholding of former Shakers supremo Hugh Eaves.

The sums involved are £1.3 million for the shares, £1.5 million for the purchase of the club plus a further amount, believed to be a colossal £13 million, towards investment in the Gigg Lane set-up.

The news will come as a shock to Shakers supporters who have been waiting for the consortium that includes Yorkshire-based Turkish businessman Alex Tarsus, the "preferred bidder" in the eyes of the High Court, to be finalised.

But a delay in sealing a deal has fuelled speculation among fans that his consortium may be having difficulty in raising sufficient capital to run the club.

Mr Tarsus declined to comment when the Bury Times contacted him. A life-long Bury supporter, who is the spokesman for the new Leeds-based consortium, contacted the Bury Times expressing concern about the drawn-out saga.

Mr Eaves' shareholding is available after the High Court decree that the 117-year-old club should be sold to pay back his former Philips and Drew colleagues who entrusted him with £20 million to invest on the stock exchange, a sum he lost on the high-risk derivatives market.

The loss of the majority shareholder's financial support two years ago threw the club into financial chaos and chief executive Terry Robinson and his board of directors have been fighting tooth and nail to keep it afloat ever since.

The Bury Times has played its part with its promotion of the on-going Save Our Shakers campaign, which currently stands at more than £125,000.

But the club's financial situation was further complicated with a question-mark over the security of a £1 million mortgage on the ground, taken up with a firm of Sheffield solicitors which was later struck-off for infringing Law Society regulations.

Mr Robinson admitted being in the dark about the latest group's interest and said yesterday (Thurs Jan 3): "As far as the existing directors of the club are concerned we are unaware of any change in the situation.

"But if it is true then it's great news for the club. We would welcome any progress on the takeover front, especially if it can secure the long-term future.

"It really is the sooner the better as the situation has dragged on for far too long, during which time the financial situation has understandably got worse."

A number of interested parties have cast their eye over the Shakers set-up since the shareholding went on the market.

Former Chesterfield chairman Norton Lea was the first, making a number of visits to Gigg Lane early last season.

When nothing came of his interest the appearance of Norwegian multi-millionaire Atle Brynestad at the Northwich Victoria FA Cup tie a few weeks later raised eyebrows. But the Scandinavian was quick to deny any bid.

Since then only the consortium involving Mr Tarsus, whose son Edward is an up-and-coming young full back with the Shakers, has shown sustained interest in making a bid. That was until this week's news.