BURY FC are heading back to the High Court today.

Another winding-up petition is being brought against the stricken Shakers by HM Revenue and Customs and will be heard in London on Wednesday, February 5.

The hearing will come just seven weeks after the last petition brought by HMRC was dismissed at the 11th attempt, ending one of the longest strings of winding-up court appearances concerning football clubs after a host of adjournments.

One issue with the protracted process was that the club had been paying PAYE since February 2019 on salaries despite not paying those wages.

The court heard on December 18 that an undisclosed debt had been paid, staving off the looming threat of liquidation after expulsion from the Football League back in August.

That is now back on the table, however, with another appearance scheduled.

Events in the capital will be keenly watched by all parties working to ensure the future of football in the town with three avenues remaining for Shakers fans.

A consortium, understood to be made up of local businessmen, is working to try and complete a solvent takeover from owner Steve Dale.

Those who have seen the plans have cautiously welcomed their proposals and the parties are working through the hurdles encountered by previous bidders who withdrew from the bidding process in the run up to Bury being kicked out of the EFL.

Entrepreneur Robert Benwell is also still in the picture and says he has been negotiating successfully with Capital Bridging Financing who hold the mortgage over Gigg Lane. His plan, the subject of plenty of scrutiny at a heated public meeting just before Christmas, includes buying the stadium out of liquidation and setting up a new team.

The Bury AFC phoenix movement are also pressing on with their plans as a “last resort” and are waiting on news of an application to the North West Counties League, the ninth and 10th tiers of the football pyramid.