Port Vale’s next friendly opponents threatened with expulsion from Football League
Port Vale’s next summer opponents, Bury, have been warned by the Football League that they could be expelled from League One.
The Valiants take on the League One side on Saturday 27th July at Vale Park.
Port Vale manager John Askey took the unusual step of telling the local media that the opposition would be able to raise a competitive team for the fixture. Askey commented: “I’ve spoken with their manager and he thinks they are going into the season with a strong team. There’s certainly no concerns about our game against them.”
Bury have been in crisis under the ownership of Stewart Day. Staff have not been paid for some time and this has led to an exodus of players who led the club to promotion with five joining former manager Ryan Lowe at Plymouth Argyle.
Day has claimed that a CVA was approved with creditors to settle the club’s debts but the Football League is still awaiting details of how the terms of the CVA will be met.
If the details are not provided by Thursday, the Football League board could give Bury 14 days’ notice to give the required assurances or have their membership terminated. The board could also decide to extend the deadline and give Bury more time before implementing the notice.
In a statement, the Football League said it had requested the information – which includes the “means of payment of outstanding football creditor debts” and “source and sufficiency of funding” – on several occasions.
If the Shakers do provide the relevant details by Thursday’s deadline, the League will “commence negotiations with the club to enter into a membership agreement, which will incorporate the ongoing conditions for continued membership in the league and ensure the terms of the CVA are met”.