Rebels suffer ground heartbreak

 Source: Bury Times

 By Dale Haslam

 SUPPORTER-owned FC United of Manchester could extend their stay in Bury after plans to move fell through.

The Evo-Stik Premier Division side had planned to kick off the 2012-13 season at a new £3.5million stadium in Newton Heath.

But club officials announced last Friday that Manchester City Council could no longer afford to contribute cash towards the project due to Government cuts.

The club’s board said: “We are sure this news will come as a considerable shock to our supporters. We ask supporters to remain patient and resilient in the coming days and weeks.

“We stress the board remains fully committed to delivering a new home for FC United for the start of the 2012-13 season and no amount of setbacks will detract us from that pursuit.”

The club has played the lion’s share of its home games at Gigg Lane since its formation in 2005 and staff and volunteers have spent three years working on the move.

Despite the board’s efforts, the amount of work involved in finding an alternative site could mean the club stays at Gigg Lane until at least 2013. That would mean Bury would get an extra season’s rent, worth at least £100,000 to the League Two club.

The Rebels’ mood was hardly helped at the weekend when their promotion push stalled within hours of being hit by the bad news following a lacklustre 0-0 draw against lowly Mickleover.

FC, unbeaten in eight games and three points short off the play-off places, will aim to return to winning ways against Worksop Town on Saturday and at third-placed North Ferriby United on Tuesday night.