MK Dons have shown sympathy to Bury’s plight after seeing their opening day game at Gigg Lane suspended.

The EFL had set The Shakers a deadline of 5pm yesterday to give them the necessary reassurances that they could start the League One season.

The league were not satisfied however and have now given the club until Friday to get their house in order for the game at Accrington Stanley on August 10 to take place.

With owner Steve Dale having agreed a Company Voluntary Agreement to reduce the club’s debts Paul Wilkinson’s side were already set to start the season on minus 12 points.

Now they could face an independent disciplinary commission and a potential further points deduction for failing to fulfil a fixture.

MK Dons are hugely disappointed that our opening day fixture against Bury has been suspended,” they said in statement.

“The club’s preparations for the new season have been meticulously geared towards the 3rd August start date and this potential disruption to our planning, through no fault of our own, is most unwelcome.

“That said, we understand that this is both a serious and complex situation and our overriding concern has to be for everyone at Bury Football Club and their supporters. 

“We note that the EFL are doing everything they can to assist Bury and we hope that there will be both a swift and positive resolution to the current problems, and that Bury will quickly be back in Sky Bet League One action.

“In the meantime, the club has made representations to the EFL concerning the potential impact on both future fixture congestion and sequencing of away games.

“We have also outlined our concerns on behalf of supporters who may have booked travel or accommodation and who may not be able to recover all their costs.

“We would advise any supporter affected in this way to retain evidence of any such personal loss so these might be taken forward by the club to the EFL to deal with as appropriate. More details will be announced following further consultation with the EFL.

“Any supporter who has purchased a match ticket for this fixture, as well as those who booked official away Travel with the club, can claim a full refund from the MK Dons box office.”