BURY Council have ruled out giving cash to help save the Shakers.

Bury FC chairman Terry Robinson had been in talks with council representatives and was hopeful that some sort of emergency aid deal could be sorted out.

However, despite Oldham Council entering a partnership deal with Oldham Athletic recently, the council made it clear to the Bury Times yesterday that money would not be handed over.

Council leader Derek Boden said the local authority was not a bank and could not give money to the club without it helping the local community.

"The club can't come to us as a last resort," said Coun Boden. "We are not in the business of giving out money. We are not a bank.

"If we lent them money which would demonstrate the community as a whole were getting value then we would but we simply cannot just give them money.

"We have had a number of meetings with Terry Robinson but unfortunately there hasn't been much progress."

The council leader's comments came as a shock to the Bury chairman who said he couldn't comment because "as far as we're aware the discussions are still ongoing".

The situation is a far cry from events up the road in Oldham, where the council and the football club seem to be in perfect harmony.

As a result of discussions between the two - and a development company called Oldham Property Partnerships - Latics have been provided with a £240,000 cash injection to help them overcome financial obligations.

Oldham Athletic Chief Executive Alan Hardy said it was vital for local council's to help soccer clubs.

"The importance of a town having a football club is huge," he explained. "There are one or two club's now forming partnerships with council's because they need help. We are working with the council and it has proved helpful."

Bury Council however, despite the precarious position at Gigg Lane, are reluctant to give money because they are aware that they may be criticised for using ratepayers cash for a purpose that won't benefit all ratepayers.

Unfortunately that attitude could result in the town not having a football club at all, which - as the majority of people, footie fans or not, would surely agree - will make the place a whole lot poorer.