A prospective bidder for Bury FC has moved to reassure fans that work is continuing to preserve the future of the club.

Supporters are considering their next steps after the Shakers’ expulsion from the EFL was confirmed at a meeting of clubs last week.

The club’s Rescue Board, led by Bury North MP James Firth, has indicated that they will now apply for a place in the National League from next season.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has also called on the Football Association to intervene in the situation.

Fans’ group Forever Bury held a meeting at Bury Town Hall on Monday night which addressed a number of issues and saw a statement from an anonymous bidder read out to those in attendance.

Owner Steve Dale bought the debt-ridden club from Stewart Day for £1 last December with a winding up petition brought by HMRC back in the High Court on October 16.

That could see the club liquidated with fans then facing the prospect of starting a new club from scratch.

“The current situation regarding the corporate future of Bury Football Club Limited, whose majority shareholder is Mr Dale, is complex, to say the least,” the bidder’s statement read.

“Such complexities require careful and considered solutions, which, in turn, also require time and patience to allow meaningful progress to be made.

“It must be placed on record at this stage that the current financial situation which has been allowed to develop over recent years is nothing short of catastrophic. In light of this, the statement made by the EFL last week was understandable.

“The work carried out over recent weeks by the Rescue Board and, in particular, the members of Forever Bury, has been exemplary.

“Bury Football Club, the supporters and the community are indeed fortunate to have such dedication and passion at its core. It is unfortunate that this degree of support has not resulted in retention of an EFL place for next season.

“However, the fact that we are prepared to make this statement after the EFL ruling should be treated as confirmation that Bury Football Club is still alive.

“As mentioned earlier, the complex ongoing discussions require a level of confidentiality. A plea goes out to Bury FC fans to respect that confidentiality at this stage whilst we continue to engage with all relevant parties, but please be assured that all avenues will continue to be explored, always with the future existence of a community-based club playing football at Gigg Lane being the main focus.”

At the meeting, Forever Bury outlined how their discussions centre around saving Bury FC in its current form rather than turning attentions towards a potential phoenix club.

That work is however being undertaken by a different working group which has been endorsed by the supporters’ trust and has so far identified more than 100 volunteers that could fill a variety of roles.

With any application for a new club to enter the football pyramid needing to made to the FA early in the new year it was agreed that work should continue on both possible outcomes, be it Bury FC surviving or a new club needing to be formed.

A fresh incarnation of the Shakers would have to start in the North West Counties League, the ninth tier of the pyramid.

The gathering at the Town Hall was however told that should Bury FC survive then the National League North, tier six, is an option.