A FURIOUS Neville Neville has described reports in Sunday's News of the World, claiming he is heading a consortium aiming to buy control of Bury FC as "complete rubbish."

"The directors have taken over the running of the club, something I have had nothing to do with, I simply helped them out with fundraising," he said.

"The ground has been taken back into the club's ownership and now the directors have sole control of the football club. I have never discussed taking the club over with anyone, nor would I want to.

"Reports of me being involved in a takeover, along with my lads Gary and Phil (the Bury-born Manchester United and England pair) are completely unfounded and to be honest are sheer rubbish.

"The identity of the previous owner is secret, and with me involved in fundraising people have read something into it that simply doesn't exist.

"I now have nothing to do with the club and at no time have I had any intention of buying or running the club, and neither have my lads.

"These reports are absolutely scandalous. As usual they have got it completely wrong."

The re-securing by the directors of Gigg Lane was announced at May's AGM, when the previous owner and Neville Neville were thanked for their part in the club regaining control of it's own ground.

Ownership was lost three years ago after the club failed to honour a short-term mortgage secured on it.

But after going into administration the club was then reprieved when former commercial director Neville launched a huge fundraising campaign, backed financially by the mystery local businessman who bought the ground and allowed the Shakers to use it rent free for three years.

Rental on it was due to begin this year, which is why the directors decided to buy the ground back.