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From :  BURY TIMES  4 hrs ago

Bury FC talks "cannot proceed" reveals potential buyer



Bury FC entered administration last month   



AN investor at Ilkeston Town Football Club has revealed he has been in talks with Steve Dale to buy Bury FC.

However, in an address to the Derbyshire club’s supporters, David Hilton has said he “cannot proceed” with a deal for the Shakers, who entered administration last month.
Hilton, who has put funds into the Northern Premier League South East Division club, is a director of Nottinghamshire firm Maxwell Cohen.
He said: “I would like to offer clarity on a matter that has the potential to cause a little uncertainty or unrest.   

“After receiving many messages and emails recently regarding Bury Football Club, I can confirm that I have participated in discussions over recent weeks about potentially purchasing the club. 
“Whilst most negotiations have been extremely positive, I have failed to reach an agreement with Mr Dale regarding his shares and at present cannot proceed. 
“My only objective is to revive Bury Football Club and create a self-sustainable model moving forward, eradicating the club's debt as part of the process. “A very similar model to the one that was insisted upon before offering investment at Ilkeston Town Football Club.”


 

Last edited by Matchman (29/12/2020 7:24 PM)

Maybe he could buy Bury because he does not own Ilkeston Town. Mark Clifford is the lone shareholder at Ilkeston Town Football Club. Dave Hilton is an investor and I can only presume he can invest in as many clubs as he wants. I think it may only become a problem if he becomes a shareholder in both clubs. Because of our volatile past any thing that seems a threat to the status quo becomes a worry. Dave Hilton is free to buy or invest in any thing he wants and he has stressed his plans for Ilkeston Town are still alive. Maybe they don't realise quite how nervous the news about him and Bury FC makes us long time Ilkeston fans. It does seem that it is not proceeding any further which is a thing that should calm the nerves but it just goes to show you can't take anything for granted. Our history is full of false dawns and broken promises and on lots of occasions those that worked at the club knew something was not quite right. However this time I think the owner and investors are genuine in their wish to develop Ilkeston Town Football Club into a self sustain hub of the community. I personally trust them if thats any help!

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CLUB STATEMENT


An Update from Chairman and Head of Football, Mark Clifford        Jan 11 2021




Firstly I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year, I thought it important at this stage to share with you the possible impacts on Ilkeston Town FC should Investor David Hilton be successful in his bid to revive Bury FC.
I have spoken to David regularly throughout this negotiation and from the outset, I sought assurances to ensure the ITFC project remains in his plans.  Without hesitation, David assured me that the project will be completed as promised.

As investors at ITFC David and Andrew have been very hands on and this shows in what is a revitalised New Manor Ground. Our playing squad is one that excites me and our recent friendly at Gainsborough Trinity was another reminder of the potential in this squad.
Since their arrival not only has the ground had the makeover they have listened to what is needed to make the football club thrive through local young talent, we have launched an academy who had a great run in the FA youth cup which is some achievement for a side that featured players from the academy and our u16’s. We have an U23 team playing at step seven and competing very well for a team of 16-18 year olds. We have a plan to bring through young homegrown and hungry players that not only can play for our first team but to go beyond that to the higher levels of Non-league and of course into the professional game.

The Plans for a state of the art 3G pitch will still go ahead, as soon as we have confirmation from the league to confirm the seasons end. The pitch will go as originally planned  and replace the grass pitch at the NMG.
This will be a great thing for the club and community meaning our junior teams, ladies, academy, Vets and first-team can train and play at the NMG on a more regular basis as well as creating revenue for additional bookings to ensure the long term sustainability of the club is achieved as was always the model when we took ownership of the club. Pending planning permission the plans to build units on the site of the NMG car park will still go ahead in the next 12 months.

One thing that excites me is the potential partnership between ITFC and Bury FC that can be mutually beneficial and we have discussed the possibilities and its just another example of how we look to provide pathways and opportunities for players to reach their potential.
I hope this reassures any concerns that may arise from the Bury FC takeover. This is still the very beginning of the journey for ITFC under this stewardship and we fully expect to deliver on the promises made both on and off the pitch.

We can’t wait to see all of you back at the New Manor Ground once it is safe to do so, in the meantime please follow government guidelines and keep yourself and your families well.

Cliff

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Are the Shakers finally set for a new start? #buryfc  



Businessman hopes Bury FC takeover is near completion.   DAVID Hilton is hopeful his takeover of Bury FC is near to being finalised.   burytimes.co.uk

    BBC RM Sport[/url][url=https://twitter.com/BBCRMsport]@BBCRMsport·6h Businessman David Hilton says he is close to a deal to buy Bury FC, which would include a transfer of debt and ownership of Gigg Lane. He hopes to place an application with to the FA to begin next season in the National League or National League North.
#BuryFC



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DAVID Hilton is hopeful his takeover of Bury FC is near to being finalised.

The Nottinghamshire-based businessman’s interest in the stricken Shakers, currently in administration, first came to light when a statement from Ilkeston Town, where he has been an investor, revealed his talks with Steve Dale regarding a takeover had stalled.Hilton has continued to work on a deal though with his efforts to buy the club coming as phoenix club Bury AFC deny they have made a bid to buy Gigg Lane after speculation online over the weekend.  

With a background in property, Hilton’s work at Ilkeston has included helping the Northern Premier League side develop their New Manor Ground. A statement from the Derbyshire club assured supporters of his ongoing support to deliver on promised projects and proposed the idea of a potential link-up between the two clubs.

A rebuilt Shakers at Gigg Lane could be handed a place in the National League structure, most likely the National League North. And replying to one fan on social media, Hilton wrote: “The deal negotiated is for everything, club, stadium, company and everything else associated with it. “The negotiations however were with different parties and it’s now with the lawyers to piece it all together.“  An official statement will be released when everything is finalised.”  

Hilton has previously called on the Shakers fanbase to come together, lamenting the split that has arisen over both the phoenix club and Forever Bury’s plan to raise funds for a takeover bid.

AFC said on Monday that any suggestion they had bid for the club’s historic home at Gigg Lane was incorrect and would go against the rules and regulations that govern the fan-owned community benefit society set up in the wake of the Shaker’s expulsion from the EFL. The club also addressed the strong views shared from both sides on social media as the Shakers’ plight continues to be a source of real hurt in the town.  A statement read: “There has been speculation over the weekend regarding the potential purchase of Gigg Lane.  “The Shakers Community board would like to put the record straight and confirm that we have never made any bid to purchase Gigg Lane. Our rules would not permit such actions without a mandate to do so from our members. “We all feel the pain and despair at what has happened to Bury FC caused by the decisions of previous owners. “Fans have had their hopes for a rescue of the club raised and dashed innumerable times in the last two years. It is understandable that Bury fans raise questions when someone new comes along.

“The Shakers Community and Bury AFC board defend the right of supporters to respectfully air their views and we refute any speculation that social media criticism has been coordinated by Bury AFC.” 

Hilton has worked with business partner Andrew Nally at Ilkeston.As well as investing in the club’s ground, they been praised by chairman and head of football Mark Clifford for their work developing the academy. Clifford said: “I have spoken to David regularly throughout this (Bury) negotiation and from the outset, I sought assurances to ensure the ITFC project remains in his plans. Without hesitation, David assured me that the project will be completed as promised. “One thing that excites me is the potential partnership between ITFC and Bury FC that can be mutually beneficial and we have discussed the possibilities and it’s just another example of how we look to provide pathways and opportunities for players to reach their potential.”

Dale placed the Shakers into administration last month with the club’s affairs being handled by Steven Wiseglass, a director at Inquesta Corporate Recovery & Insolvency, who has been appointed administrator.Wiseglass was previously responsible for the club’s Company Voluntary Agreement, a move by Dale to reduce the club’s debts which defaulted. 



 

Last edited by Matchman (14/1/2021 4:51 PM)