WHAT a depressing attendance figure at the Bury v Luton game on Nov 4. It was less than 3,000 and only one other club in the Nationwide League had fewer and that was bottom club Halifax.

The Bournemouth connection, as reported in the BT of Nov 10 was interesting, but I doubt if it's the answer. Can anyone really see non-Bury fans thinking that it's a good idea for Bury Council to loan or give Bury FC money when schools and others are asking for cash?

The Bournemouth story is an interesting one. Their chairman published a book last year entitled "Cherries in the Red" which told of Bournemouth's escape from extinction. However, when you look at their attendance figures and league position it's hardly a recipe for success. Every club is unique with its own very individual problems.

Why aren't supporters turning up to Gigg? The old adage of "success on the pitch brings the fans in" simply doesn't apply to Bury. I doubt that if they were top of the league it would make much difference. I know what people say to me and I'm sure there are plenty of others who have an opinion. Perhaps fans have just simply got tired and bored with the soap opera.

Football clubs need innovative and often radical ideas and methods to turn things around; the same old stuff simply doesn't work anymore. Football is now a business and very few people have huge amounts just to chuck at it without a return. What do I know? First of all I get called in by an increasing number of clubs to work not only on player and team performance but increasingly on business performance. But secondly, and more importantly, wherever I go I make a point of listening to what the fans have to say, because whatever anyone else in football thinks I believe they are the most important part of any club. Clubs neglect or ignore them at their peril.

TV is easy money but when it and transfer fees have gone supporters will be all that clubs have left. If any other business treated its customers the way some clubs treat their fans they wouldn't last long.

An interesting thing happened at Shrewsbury Town last season. In the last two months when I was called in they saw attendances go up from an average of 2,000 to their 7,500 capacity. Remember a thousand supporters at a tenner is ten thousand quid.

How is it done? The clue is in the previous comment about fans.

If it's agreed that we need to keep a league club in Bury, how do we go about it? When you think of the number of enterprising and successful people in the town, there must be something we can do to make sure that it happens.

I have a number of those innovative and radical ideas, some tried and tested, others brand new, and I'm sure there are plenty of other BT readers who have too. I believe that we need to have a public forum on the subject. In the meantime, if anyone wants to discuss ideas they can contact me.

Oh, and before everybody blames Terry Robinson (again) for Bury's woes, just remember how many other people there are involved. Can it all really be down to just one person? Give the man a break!

RICHARD O'NEILL, Bury.

mensbox@aol.com