CHICHESTER City say they will make a donation to the new Bury FC after benefitting from The Shakers’ expulsion from the FA Cup.

The lowest ranked side left in the competition were handed a bye to round two on Monday night as the last team drawn out of the hat having only made the first round for the first time in their history.

With Bury’s plight meaning there was one less team, the Isthmian League Division One South East outfit automatically go through and pocket £36,000 in prize money in the process.

Chichester made it immediately clear however that they would be acknowledging The Shakers’ troubles.

“The club would like to place on record that we will be making a donation to the appropriate organisation involved with the continuation of Bury FC,” the Lillywhites said in a brief statement on Twitter.

Bury’s official account replied in kind, wishing the Oaklands Park club well going forwards in the FA Cup.

“Incredibly deserved, best of luck in the next round. All Shakers will be following your progress keenly,” they said.

Momentum is building behind a Bury FC phoenix club emerging in non-league next season, a legends game at Radcliffe FC on Sunday having raised more than £20,000 for the cause.

The Shakers are back in the High Court on Wednesday, October 30 to face a winding-up petition brought by HMRC, a hearing that could see the club formally liquidated.