BURY Football Club are desperate for extra people to pass through their gates as the financial reins tighten over the holiday period, writes PHIL THORP.

Without a home match since the opening day of December, the visit of Lancashire rivals Blackpool tomorrow is the only other Gigg Lane fixture until struggling Wrexham come to town on New Year's Day.

That inactivity has exacerbated an already difficult situation as the club's average gate has fallen well short of the longed-for 5,000 that would see them break even.

They currently 'boast' the lowest league average - 3,354 - and the lowest gate - 2,459 for the visit of Wycombe Wanderers - in the division so far this season and those figures leave the Shakers' coffers an estimated £200,000 adrift of budget.

Hopefully, an improvement in fortunes on the field, which has seen the side put a healthy four-point gap between themselves and the relegation places, will see a substantial increase in fans clicking through the turnstiles.

And should that be the case then the upturn could really do with starting tomorrow.