I WAS amazed -- nay, stunned -- by Dick Davidson's criticism (Sports Letters, January 30) of Mr M Hibbert's previous comments regarding the welfare of Bury FC.

For many years Mr Hibbert has followed with keen interest the progress of many of our North West clubs. He was simply pointing out the problems faced by a small club surrounded by bigger fish (such as Burnley)!

Mr Davidson seems to have completely lost the plot -- the main point of which is that Bury are in dire straits.

What the Scunthorpe United fiasco with Stan Ternent and the referee had to do with the current situation at Gigg Lane, I cannot see.

Of course Burnley Football Club are big. They are in the same division as Blackburn Rovers, so they must be.

A CUNLIFFE, Rylands Street, Burnley.