ROSSENDALE United have been saved from financial ruin by demolition expert Andrew Connolly.

Shareholders of the cash-strapped club voted unanimously to accept Connolly's offer to takeover at Dark Lane and the formalities of the deal are now in the hands of financial and legal experts.

Connolly recently joined forces with Brent Peters at Bacup Borough.

But he's now opted to throw his considerable financial clout behind resurrecting United and he is unlikely to continue to spread his interest across both clubs.

Dale boss Micky Graham, who had threatened to resign if the club failed to find new backers, described the developments as a 'fairy tale'.

The club had been in danger of folding after a dramatic fall in revenue in recent years but this new deal has now eased those fears.

"It's all happened very quickly but I'm very excited by it all," said Connolly.

"I put forward my plans on the way I see the club going and the shareholders voted unanimously to accept it.

"Rossendale United has massive potential but it needs everybody to pull together. On the playing side I think we've got some good young players and a great young manager and I'm looking to take that forward.

"But we've got to get the ground up to scratch as well. We want to progress through the leagues but it's important we have a good foundation first."

Connolly's plans include a new social club overlooking the pitch as well as urgent maintenance work on the rest of the ground and the playing surface. But greater financial support on the playing front is also likely and Connolly was quick to confirm he feels Micky Graham is the man to lead Dale into the new millennium.

"I think the manager has done a great job to say he's had no money to work with and I'm delighted he has agreed to carry on. It speaks a lot for Micky that he has stayed at the club even through times when he hasn't been getting paid.

"That shows the loyalty of the guy and proves he has the club at heart.

"I am going to put some financial backing into the club.

"But I want to get to a stage where the club can finance itself through successful organisation off the pitch."

The formalities of the deal are set to be tied up within the next month when Connolly will take over sole control, although a committee featuring some of the existing directors is likely to be set up to offer support.

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