SHAKERS chairman Terry Robinson has given his most revealing interview yet into the dire financial position of Bury Football Club.

And today the Bury Times makes an appeal to every Bury supporter ... "Go and watch a game".

If the club is to continue to exist it needs money.

A dormant transfer market coupled with a dramatic drop in attendances has left the Shakers in serious trouble.

If the current situation continues - and supporters stay away - the club will struggle to stay alive until after Christmas.

Take the Colchester match in September. Bury were second from top at the time and yet attracted a crowd of just 2,500.

Bury made a profit of £2,400 on the match - which has to cover an average weekly club wage bill of £28,000. If the team plays away from home the following week, that £2,400 has to cover £56,000.

The sums don't add up.

Whatever the views of any Shakers supporter, the fact is that chairman Terry Robinson has done a magnificent job in keeping the club alive since Hugh Eaves stopped ploughing money in.

But it can't be done for much longer and breaking point is close.

"It is a serious situation," admitted Robinson. "The revenue from the gates is well below what we expected and we need help from supporters to pay the players wages.

"We have actively tried to look for extra sources of income and our commercial department is raising more money than ever. But it isn't enough.

"The drop in support plus the inability to sell players because there's no transfer market has left us with serious problems.

"The bottom line is that if we are not successful in getting money in by Christmas then we'll be struggling to pay the wages of players and staff."

The next few months are critical.

A bid has been made for the club by former Chesterfield chairman Norton Lea and Norwegian billionaire Atle Brynestad has also expressed interest.

But the fans - nor the club - can sit back and think the problems are solved.

Business deals get held up and it could be a long while before any bid goes through.

The Shakers need cash to come in now.

The Bury Times appeals today to fans, not the hardcore bunch who turn up week in week out in all weathers, but the floaters who sometimes pop in if it's a decent game and there's nothing on the telly.

The people of Bury have to support their club or else they won't have a club to support.

An extra 1,000 fans at each match would make a world of difference.

This isn't a gentle plea, it's serious.

"Anything the Bury Times can do to help us in the form of appeal we would greatly appreciate," added Robinson. "We are actively straining every day to bring money in but we cannot do it any longer without help."

Bury play Brentford tomorrow. Kick off is 3pm. For the sake of your local team, be there!