THE SHAKERS have appointed three new directors to help steer them clear of financial strife - but don't expect any major signings just yet!

Lifelong fans Ian Harrop, Roger Barlow and Jim Lomas hope to be officially accepted on to the Gigg Lane board at an AGM next month and will immediately set about reducing the club's crippling debt.

They have already been boosted by pledged investment from four 'associate directors' but Lomas, their boardroom representative, claimed the extra cash would merely provide a safety net and would not pave the way for any new signings.

"These men are prepared to invest in the club. There have been no figures bandied around yet but it should help the continuity of Bury FC," he said.

"We only really have the income from the Forever Bury Trust because we don't know what sort of crowds we will be getting. So it is great to know that these additional funds are available if required.

"They aren't saying 'here's a million pounds, go and buy some players.' This is about helping the survival of the club and making sure there are funds to keep the club going."

Lomas, the 58-year-old owner of a Bury engineering business, will be joined at board level by an elected member from both of the club's trusts.

Barlow, a Shakers fan since 1948 who recently sold his textiles business, was voted in by members of the Forever Bury supporters' trust and, as such, will provide a mouthpiece for the fans at the highest level.

"It's vital that the directors get to know what the supporters are thinking, without having to rely on angry letters published in newspapers," he said.

"Perhaps even more importantly, we need to communicate in the other direction and keep telling the supporters what's going on and why certain decisions are made.

"Obviously not everything should be made completely public but certainly things like explaining reasons for selling players are what the fans will be most interested in."

Harrop, 44, also has a strong business background with two metalwork companies to his name but also comes with 30 years of fundraising experience with the Shakers.

Most recently he was one of the trustees of the Save Our Shakers fundraising trust, who he now represents on the Bury board, and claims his long-term involvement with the club has helped him put a positive slant on their current predicament.

"I can remember when we were 91st out of 92 teams in the league and only getting gates of around 1,200. So if people think we are in a bad state now, they should remember where we have come from," he said.

"Now we just want to take the club forward. We have to work within very strict financial controls because there's no fairy godmother to throw loads of cash at us, although we will still be trying to find one.

"But I wouldn't be getting involved at this level unless I was confident the club could surive these tough times."

The three new recruits have all been assigned specific areas to target, with Roger looking to boost the club's PR operation, Ian taking up a commercial role and Jim tackling security and match day stewarding.

By CHRIS HALL

Trio to turn the tide?