Gigg Lane has not hosted a game in nearly three years
A group of Bury supporters have finalised a deal to buy back Gigg Lane, the club's historic old ground.
Fan groups Forever Bury and Est. 1885 reached a satisfactory agreement with administrators, 15 months after the club's administration was confirmed.
Gigg Lane has not hosted a game since the 2018/2019 season, with Bury expelled from the English Football League in August 2019. Then owner Steve Dale put the Shakers into administration the following November with the club's future shrouded in uncertainty ever since.
With Bury FC not playing any games for nearly three years, some supporters set up a breakaway club, Bury AFC, who currently sit top of the North West Counties First Division North.
As well as acquiring Gigg Lane, the two supporters' groups have also agreed to a deal to trade as Bury FC moving forward.
A statement from Forever Bury said: "We are delighted to announce that today we closed on the purchase of Gigg Lane from the Administrator and it is now community asset, free of debt or liabilities.
"We have also acquired the trading name, history and memorabilia of Bury FC. In this process we have attracted funding from the UK Government, America and a number of other local benefactors, none of whom expect any more return from their support than the satisfaction of seeing football return to the ground, and it's expanded use for community sports and wellbeing."
The statement adds that attention will now turn to making sure the ground is fit to host football matches, having been dormant for over two years. There is also hope from Forever Bury and Est. 1885 that the new Shakers can fully align with Bury AFC as they move forward.
"In the next few days we will also be announcing the rebranding and future role for Forever Bury and the transition of Est.1885," the statement says. "We remain fully committed to finding a consensual path with Bury AFC and will be fully restarting these discussions next week."
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