SHAKERS boss Andy Preece insists his club will not go to the wall as a result of the collapse of ITV Digital writes Chris Hall

The Carlton and Granada-owned broadcaster has gone into administration, claiming they can not afford to pay up the remaining £180million of their contract with the Football League.

A far lesser figure may now have to be settled for, sparking fears that more than 20 league clubs could be bankrupted after already budgeting for the TV cash.

With Bury already in the midst of a financial crisis, currently in administration as creditors demand repayment of a £1.3million mortgage, many have been pointing the finger firmly at the Gigg Lane club as one of the first likely to fall by the wayside.

But manager Preece says losing the ITV cash, believed to be worth around £300,000 to Bury, would not affect the Shakers' chances of avoiding liquidation after the club wisely did not base their budget on the proposed income.

"It's not going to help us, there's no doubt about that. But I think it's going to hurt other clubs more than us," he said.

"I think the Football League feels it has the upper hand in this, so we should still get something but, no matter what happens, there's no point getting too pessimistic about it.

"Even if we get nothing, the money will just come out of the players' wages. It won't affect us as badly as it will many other clubs."

Meanwhile Bury are pinning their hopes on 70 local businessmen to give them a chance of a bright new future.

Despite the tremendous fund raising activities of their fans, which raised £230,000 in a matter of weeks, Shakers still need a massive cash boost to get see them safely through a date in the High Court on April 26 and then the revenue-free summer months.

As vice-chairman of the recently-formed Bury FC Fundraising committee Neville is trying to get that figure up to £300,000 and is asking 70 businesses to pledge £1,000 to the cause before that April 26 date.

Should the club be saved, in return a Celebration Dinner will be held at the Manchester United Executive Club on May 19, with each contributing business entitled to a table for ten.

Money raised by the Fundraising Committee will go towards setting up a Trust to hopefully buy former director Hugh Eaves' majority shareholding and put the club in control of the people of Bury.

"We want the fans to be part of the future of the club and have boardroom representation," said Peter Metcalfe, Fundraising Committee treasurer.

"We want to be open and transparent to everyone and ensure Bury FC is with us for years to come."

The shares are currently in the hands of creditors who lost money by unwisely allowing the rogue trader to invest their money.

With the control of the club out of the hands of these people and the High Court out of the equation it is hoped that a number of businessmen will invest in the club and take it forward to a new dawn.

"If we can get the fund up to £300,000 it will be an achieveable target to take the club forward through the summer," said Mr Neville.

"Hopefully, then a rescue package will have been put together and the whole financing of the club can be looked at.

"One individual has already promised to underwrite the mortgage situation should we be successful and that would be a major boost as the club tries to get back on it's feet.

"The main objective is to bring Bury FC back into the hands of the local community.

"A number of businesses have already said they will invest in the club but only after it out of the hands of Mr Eaves creditors.

"That's also the situation with the local council who are only allowed to work with us when the legal problems have been sorted out."

The local authority is the focus for another massive fundraising event prior to the final home match of the season against Colchester United on Saturday, April 13.

That's when 1,000 Shakers fans, carrying petitions, will march from Gigg Lane to the Town Hall at lunchtime in a show of support and to encourage the council to help the club in any way it can.

Each petition will have been signed by 20 people who will have donated £1 each bringing in another vital £20,000 to the Shakers cause .

"We have a good deal of money in the fundraising account and all supporters groups should be congratulated on their efforts," added Neville.

"There have been bucket collections at Manchester United, Burnley, Blackburn and Preston, in Bury town centre and at local supermarkets.

"Hopefully those fans who have put differences aside will be rewarded when people ready to invest in the club bring it back to Bury and the community that it belongs."