Bury FC manager Kevin Blackwell claims he is yet to be told the full extent of the club’s financial plight ahead of Saturday’s must-win game with Oldham Athletic.
A loss would see the Shakers relegated to League Two – three days after the club announced it needs £1million to survive.
The board is yet to speak to any of the club staff about the situation and Blackwell insists it is detrimental to the club’s unity.
“It’s as clear as mud at the moment for everybody,” he told the club website
“I’ve got no idea about the finances whatsoever but the statement coming out has been a real shock to everybody at the football club.
“Football is partnered by finances and if you don’t run your club properly or well you can find yourself in this sort of state.
“Even now the staff don’t know what’s going on and I don’t think that helps to get a cohesive unit together both on and off the pitch.
“As a manager I feel like I’ve let the team down because I can’t bring the players in to help the ones I’ve already got. It’s clear to everyone now while we’ve been unable to fill a bench.”
The Shakers sit bottom of League One, seven points behind Oldham who only sit above the drop-zone through goal difference.
Bury – currently under a second transfer embargo – have won just one of their last eight games, and are without a goal in more than 180 minutes.
The Shakers could only field three outfield substitutes for last week’s defeat to Hartlepool, a problem brought about by finances, but could be down to just two – Craig Fagan and Efe Sodje both suspended.
And although David Healy is expected to return after recovering from flu, Blackwell believes changes have to be made to the English game to protect the economies of lower-league clubs.
“I think if football doesn’t sort itself out we’ll see a lot more clubs in this position,” he added.
“It’s important people realise that this is one of the only country’s that has a major professional league right down at the level we do.
“If all the Premier League clubs getting that £30million uplift next year, put half a million in a pot and split it between the divisions it would go a long way to saving the football.”
Image courtesy of ESPN, via YouTube, with thanks
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