England manager fears 'tragic story' of Bury FC could be repeated

England manager Gareth Southgate says his first ever football match was at Gigg Lane, and he fears the ‘tragic story’ of Bury's collapse could repeat itself over the coming years.

The Shakers were expelled from the EFL this week following the collapse of a takeover bid.

The 134-year-old club are now looking at their next steps after receiving another offer from ‘a credible bidder’ that could offer late hope of avoiding liquidation.

Southgate lived in the town for a short while as a child and is saddened, although not surprised, by their plight.

“The first game I ever went to was at Gigg Lane,'' the England boss said.

“I can't say I remember too much about living up there because I was only young when we moved, five, six, seven.

“The first game I went to was Bury against Watford. Derek Spence scored the winner, so it sticks in your mind.

“I don't think I watched much (of the game) as I was running up and down the terraces - with probably my dad clipping me round the ear to sit and watch!

“My first thoughts are with people who have lost their jobs because the human element of that is that the players at that level have much more financial difficulty than players in the leagues above, and of course with the staff.

“It's like any other business that goes under, that's a massive blow for the families and the human part of that.

“Of course, for the supporters, for whom the club is part of the community and a real sense of identity. It's a tragic story.

“It worries me, and I think it could be something we see a bit more frequently. I'm not sure the game is sustainable in its spending, outside of the money that comes in from the television.

“So, that is each club's responsibility to manage their finances and the decision-making as a club has not been the right thing.''

Bolton avoided the same fate as Bury after administrators announced the club’s sale to Football Ventures (Whites) Limited.

The two clubs are far from alone in being poorly run and Southgate was asked whether there should be tighter regulation around ownership.

“I don't know enough about how everything operates really,'' the Three Lions boss said.

“What is clear to me is that, in a 92-team pyramid - and professional teams, at non-league level as well - there are so many clubs in deficit and in debt. That can't be sustainable, so that has to be addressed.

“I understand the desire for people to risk to progress and there's examples where that has worked.

“I think clubs have to think seriously about their model and, again, talking about the young players coming through, that is surely the classic example where young players coming through give an opportunity to clubs to have a sustainable model and use the talent that I believe exists in our country."