FANS and the Bury public are to be canvassed in a dramatic bid to find out why the townsfolk are turning their backs on the Shakers, writes STEVE BOTT.

With Bury FC's financial situation reaching crisis proportions the club and now the Supporters' Association are exploring every avenue in a bid to find ways of bringing the public back into the ground.

The average attendance has dropped alarmingly from approximately 5,000 to 3,377 since relegation from the First to the Second Division at the end of last season and Bury currently are desperate to raise £500,000 towards the cost of the new Cemetery End stand.

If they don't, grant aid of £1.5 million won't be forthcoming and Bury will have to foot the whole bill.

That could be crippling and a further fear is that major shareholder Hugh Eaves could call in his cash at any time due to his own personal situation.

"To suddenly go down from 5,000 to 3,377 is still worrying even taking into account relegation," said a Supporters' Association spokesperson.

"Our market research will be aimed at the general public and we will be trying to find out why they are not coming through the gates and what they want to see at Gigg Lane.

"We will be conducting it in the shopping areas and streets and we hope to have the results by the end of December."

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