I can't say I've been too bothered about following the developments of Bury but their ST seems to have been somewhat active and has just come up with a (non enforceable) Memorandum of Understanding amongst all the key groups involved.
Just to remind you Bury couldn't pay its bills and the EFL withdrew its 'golden share' which meant Bury could no longer play in the EFL pyramid.
The owner eventually business into Administration who held the ground as an asset for sale, Gigg Lane and this led to a split amongst the fans, with one group wanting to form a phoenix club - which they did Bury AFC (and whom have just got promoted from the division they were in) and the hardcore Bury fans who didn't recognise any other club than Bury itself - who had no team was was unable to compete!
It seems the government has splashed out £1m of our taxpayers money to the Bury ST in order for them to buy Gigg Lane (I'm sure Bob will share the same view as mine as to what an absolute waste of our money for no apparent benefit apart to perhaps buy a few votes for them at the time of the next elections!) and this MoU is intended to bring everybody together!
It's rather a lengthy document so I won't post it out in full...
https://buryafc.uk/2022/05/memorandum-of-understanding-signed-to-progress-football-in-bury/...but I will post out a reply to it from someone clearly in the Bury AFC camp!
Mark Jackson
May 10, 2022
This memorandum of understanding is a clear example of nudge theory in action – influencing people to make the right choice (a ‘merger’ and return to GL) whilst appearing not to coerce or restrict choice.
Thus we have reference to “signed to progress football in Bury”, a statement designed to position anyone who doesn’t agree with the proposed choices as being resistant to progress. We have reference to Bury Football Club in the Est grouping, designed to fool people into believing they have saved FC. We have the daddy nudge “we are looking to combine and unite a number of organisations under one banner, however that might be achieved”, designed to position as divisive those not favouring a faux ‘unity’ and a takeover of AFC badged as a merger. Finally we have the illusion of choice, through reference to member votes, to be held (naturally) at a time when those doing the nudging are confident they can win the day.
So who is doing the nudging? It’s clearly not AFC, as this is not our style. I strongly suspect AFC has been left with no choice but to go along with this, under extreme pressure from the political stakeholders who appear to have aligned themselves behind Est / SS.
The direction of travel and desired outcomes laid out in the memorandum presage the end of the AFC model and its many attributes. A structure with fans in total control, and which deters predators. Exemplary fan involvement and engagement. Proactive community engagement. Openness and transparency. Financial sustainability and sound governance. A demonstrably skilled, capable leadership. A club by the fans, for the fans and the wider community.
Stand by now for more nudging. Including reference to the downsides of 100% fan ownership, and the benefits of a different approach. Including reference to the need to retain AFC’s CBS status, not as a means of protecting our money and assets but as a means by which Est and SS can get their hands on those assets without breaching FCA rules.
A sad day indeed.