Bury South MP Ivan Lewis confirmed that Bury FC owner Steve Dale is attempting to save the club with millions of pounds still owed to creditors.

The MP contacted the football club’s owner to discuss the latest developments over the phone and revealed wages are still owed to staff while certain transactions under the previous owners could be subject to fraud investigations.

In a statement released earlier today Mr Lewis stated:

“I was able to have a lengthy telephone conversation with Bury FC owner Steve Dale this afternoon. His priority is to ensure that the HMRC winding up proceedings – scheduled for the 19th June – ends in a positive outcome.

“He assures me that staff have been paid up to and until last week, however acknowledges last week he was unable to make the necessary payments. I urged him to put this right as a matter of urgency.

“The club has millions of pounds worth of debts which were accrued under the previous owner. It is clear that the club was being run on an unsustainable basis. There is certainly a case for certain transactions to be reviewed by the Serious Fraud Office.

“It is also true that difficult decisions will have to be made about the club’s outgoings which will inevitably be unpopular with staff and supporters alike. It seems certain that the club’s first team manager and assistant manager will not be at Bury FC next season.

“I stressed to Mr Dale the importance of working with Bury Council, James Frith MP and myself to ensure total transparency and accountability to supporters and the local community.

“I offered our full support in taking whatever steps are necessary to save the club and ensure its success on and off the field. I urge supporters to refrain from targeting Mr Dale or his family with personal abuse. Only time will tell whether he is the right man to take the club forward. At this stage, he is the owner and we must seek to work with him in a constructive way. Equally, Mr Dale has a duty of care to staff and supporters.

“I will continue to keep supporters informed of relevant developments.”

Bury are due back in court on June 19 to face a winding up petition brought by HMRC for unpaid taxes.