FORMER Chesterfield chairman Norton Lee may be just days away from buying Bury Football Club.
This follows a decision by the courts in London to give permission for the sale of Hugh Eaves 90 per cent shares in the Shakers and Mr Lee, a millionaire in his 70s who stepped down as chairman of the Spireites earlier this year, told the Bury Times yesterday that he could not comment on the current situation but would make an announcement if and when anything happened. He did not deny making a bid.
There are also believed to be two other parties interested in buying Bury. These are said to be local businessman Ron Wood and a consortium from the Leeds area.
Bury chairman Terry Robinson, a friend of both Ron Wood and Norton Lee, said he was in the dark about the possibility of a deal and said he was looking forward to seeing what happened adding that his main concern is Bury Football Club.
Mr Robinson said: "The position is that we are looking forward to seeing what happens in September.
"The directors and I are hopeful that there will be someone available to keep the club moving forward. I am not selling the shares and I know as much as you, so we will just have to wait and see what happens."
The action should start to unfold on Monday when a court order comes into effect
which states that the 90 per cent of shares owned by Hugh Eaves can be sold by the creditors, the group of people whose pension money as entrusted to Mr Eaves to be invested. They have been successful in winning the court's permission to dispose of Mr Eaves' assets.
It means that, from Monday, Bury Football Club's future will be effectively controlled by a number of businessman in London, those who worked with Mr Eaves at the stockbroking firm of Phillips and Drew.
Mr Eaves, a millionaire who lives in Hampstead, North London, kept Bury financially afloat since the mid -1980s but he has not been connected with the club since last year when it emerged that he was involved in allegedly losing millions in a stock market gamble which went wrong.
Without any financial support, the club has been struggling to keep its head above water ever since, putting the entire squad up for sale and selling several players, such as Andy Woodward and Ian Lawson, simply to make ends meet.
The Shakers desperately need a buyer to come forward and next week's court action will improve those chances.
Mr Robinson and Bury's directors recently held a meeting with the creditors' solicitors and, subsequent to that, adverts of a "Football club for sale' nature were placed in newspapers.
Mr Robinson said the creditors were not in a position to support the club until a sale was achieved and it was therefore up to everyone involved with Bury FC to ensure the club survived until the outcome was determined.
Ashurst Morris and Crisp, the solicitors who are overseeing the sale of the shares on behalf of the creditors, declined to make a statement, saying that negotiations were at a delicate stage and it would not be correct to comment.
Shakers fans would be delighted if a buyer could be found to take control of the club as it would bring financial security and guarantee the club's long-term survival.
With the club flying high in Division Two it might also mean that Bury will be able to hold onto their star players, such as skipper Nick Daws and young goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
Hang on to your seats as from Monday, it could be an interesting ride!
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