BURY FC chairman Terry Robinson has spoken of the struggle to keep the club afloat as the proposed takeover of the Shakers drags on.

An acceptable offer for Hugh Eaves' majority shareholding is in place but legal red tape is holding up any deal.

But, worryingly, a recent poll on a Shakers' independent website showed that a staggering 77 per cent of fans believe the current takeover will not go through.

With that in mind, speaking to the club's official website, the Bury supremo gives an insight into the problems he and his directors are having keeping the club running on a day-to-day basis.

"The takeover of the sale of Mr Eaves shares is the major problem," said Mr Robinson.

"The club is subject to many High Court directives which make normal business almost impossible and the lack of confidence from both supporters and staff gives the club motivation problems.

"This is not the first takeover. The Norton Lee (former Chesterfield chairman) saga eight months ago culminated in the High Court refusing the offer.

"And it is still possible that they may deem the current offer unacceptable, too. "Our understanding of the present situation is that an acceptable offer is in place from a consortium who have insisted on total confidentiality.

"They, it appears, require a mortgage to be in place and the solicitors acting for the plaintiffs (Mr Eaves creditors) appear to want undertakings, which are being discussed.

"The only people working on what is the important short term issue of procuring a mortgage are the directors."

And Mr Robinson pointed out that the club would have been wound up by now if the plaintiffs solicitors had their way.

"It must be made clear to everyone that in the first meeting with the plaintiffs solicitors they wanted both Bury FC and Swinton RLFC to liquidate immediately.

"But it is only the work of the directors that have kept the club going and, cost-wise, in a stronger position than it was then."

Mr Robinson also warned that the Shakers will have to sell more players if the right offer comes along.

Supporters were shocked when rising star Chris Armstrong was sold to rivals Oldham Athletic last month for £200,000.

And it would have been even worse had Jon Newby not decided to snub Latics and stay at Gigg.

But the chairman has made it clear that the club has no option but to accept offers.

"If we put things bluntly, for this club to survive without the sale of players is a near impossibility," he said.

"We have gate income that is less than £600,000 per year and a club wage bill of £1.4m. We have a youth policy that has cost the club £1.3m over four years.