The CEO and Club Secretary of Bury Football Club, Niel Sears, has officially resigned just hours after two other key board members also stepped down.
Fan-owned Bury FC has weathered a difficult few years after slipping into administration back in 2020, splintering into two teams and eventually reforming with its phoenix club in July 2023.
A return to Gigg Lane, a significant investment in the women’s team and a new financial strategy looked to signal the start of a new chapter for the Greater Manchester side, but after a backlash in response to an impending ‘review’ of their volunteering practices, it looks like drama is returning.
Sharing merely two sentences on Friday evening, a statement on the Bury FC website simply read: “We can confirm the resignation of CEO & Club Secretary, Neil Sears. Further comment will be released in due course.
⚪️🔵 Club Statement
We can confirm the resignation of CEO & Club Secretary, Neil Sears.
As alluded to in the update, there is little detail at this time and with the weekend’s football to tend with first, the club are unlikely to address the situation until sometime next week.
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Having previously worked with Burnley FC and retrained to specialise in sports business and law, Sears was appointed CEO and club sec back in February after having been deemed to have successfully fulfilled the position on a part-time basis since October last year.
A seemingly popular appointment, the only issue of note between Sear and the club was an incident this past summer after he called out some “absolutely disgraceful behaviour from a certain fraction of Bury fans” during a visit to Blackpool this past summer.
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However, with the Football Supporters’ Society of Bury (FSSB) chair Phil Young and the club’s football chair Marcel De Matas – both fellow board members and important figures around the club – having also stepped down earlier this week, there looks to have been a clear walkout among the higher-ups.
While there are almost certainly multiple vying factors, the recent review of the volunteer framework and, more specifically, the dismissal of loyal club servant John Rafferty has no doubt been influential.
Very saddened to hear my friend John Rafferty has been relieved of his duties at our club. John epitomised the "club man" ethos. Ensuring fans without Internet access could get their STs, helping start the veterans hub, and networking with @BuryFCWorldwide gutted & angry 😡 https://t.co/p9HNxwh2rZ
On Wednesday, 6 November, Rafferty was told his services were no longer required and despite assurance that he was welcome to come back to Gigg Lane once he has taken time to look over their latest offer, he has been relieved of his current duties after a number of years.
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Contextualising the series of events, Bury explained in another lengthy statement this week: “We have been in regular contact with John since Wednesday, both offering apologies for the upset caused and working on the solution to move forward.
“A conversation was had between a member of the board and CEO Neil Sears regarding John’s role. This led to confusion, and miscommunication and caused unnecessary stress on a volunteer. We greatly regret this action.”
Unsurprisingly, there has been an outpouring of support for Rafferty and frustration towards the NWCL (North West Counties League) team online.
“John Rafferty, one of the nicest people you could wish to meet and one of the biggest Bury fans you can speak to removed with no justification as to why. What possible reason can be given?” one person wrote. Another person added: “Whoever is behind this decision should hold their heads in shame – I have never seen a man put so much effort into a [football] club. Absolutely shocking.”
Only time will tell as to why these numerous and clearly seismic decisions have been made and we won’t be surprised if more don’t join the exodus.
Featured Images — Mylo Kaye (via Pexels)/Bury FC (vis YouTube screenshot)
Sport
Manchester City’s alleged charges have been increased to 130
Danny Jones
Manchester City’s hearing over their 115 alleged breaches of FFP (financial fair play) has ended and the outcome is that their charges have now been increased to 130.
Not exactly what Blues will want to hear.
The hearing officially concluded last Friday, 6 December after a 12-week process to determine whether they broke Premier League regulations regarding PSR (profit and sustainability), with accusations initially spanning a nine-year period.
However, rather than making any progress when it comes to clearing their record, it looks as though the opposite has happened.
Man City are now alleged to have committed 130 breaches of Premier League rules with both parties still able to enter an official appeal.
The hearing was held at the International Dispute Resolution Centre near St Paul’s in London, kicking off in September before coming to a close on Friday, 6 December.
Fans will no doubt have been hoping for and maybe even expecting a much more positive update, especially after having been successful in their recent case against the division regarding sponsorship deals and Associated Party Transactions (APT).
As well as the number of alleged breaches having risen to 130, the period of offence is also now said to have been extended, jumping from just under a decade to a total of 14 years.
The Times writer Martyn Ziegler says the club could quietly learn of their fate as soon as next month and even though a final decision still isn’t expected until spring 2025, should either side appeal the final outcome, this will likely draw out proceedings for several more months.
Man City’s charges have gone from 115 to 130. (Credit: The Manc Group)
For context, City still deny all of the claims laid against them, which include failing to provide accurate financial information for as many as nine seasons, full details of players’ wages, hiding the true figure former manager Roberto Mancini was paid for her service, as well as failing to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation and UEFA’s FFP rules.
The club were slapped with a two-year European ban back in 2020 and have been fined by the European footballing body previously, but that ban was ultimately dropped and even their most recent financial punishment was dropped from £30 million to just £10m – chump change given their spending power.
It still remains unclear what exactly will happen to the reigning English champions if they are found guilty but with Pep Guardiola’s also struggling for form of late, having lost five games in a row for the first time in the Catalan’s career, those inside the Etihad could do with some good news.
The blue moon that has loomed over Manchester in recent years is looking a little lost behind the clouds at the minute.
Five Manchester City players have been named in the 2024 FIFPRO World 11 teams
Danny Jones
A total of five Manchester City players have been selected for the 2024 FIFPRO World 11 across the mens and women’s teams.
Notching the second most votes of any other team on this year’s roster, beaten only by Real Madrid with seven), Man City fans can round off another unbelievable year of achievements with one last round of accolades.
Earning a spot on the FIFPRO World 11 is arguably one of the most coveted forms of recognition a footballer can ever hope for, as the dream team is voted for by more than 28,000 players from 70 different countries.
As for which City stars they believe are among the best players in the world, four of Pep Guardiola’s side found themselves in the squad and just one player from Gareth Taylor’s team.
The peer-to-peer voting covered the period between August 20, 2023 and July 14, 2024 (Euro 2024 final) and featured players representing eight different clubs and hailing from 10 different nations.
As you can see, the Blues given the nod as part of the Men’s FIFPRO World 11 don’t come as too much of a surprise: Ballon d’Or winner Rodri was always going to be a shoe-in, as was his midfield partner and arguably the best in the world, Kevin De Bruyne.
Goalkeeper Ederson was also a pretty comfortable choice along with multi-record-breaking goalscorer Erling Haaland, all of whom followed a historic treble-winning season with a fourth Premier League title in a row – a feat never achieved before by any other English team.
With players given a larger list of 250 shortlisted talents to vote on, breaking it down into just 11 players is no easy task. The only other player from the divison who managed to get their name on the list was Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and England star Jude Bellingham notched more votes than anyone with 11,176.
As for the Women’s FIFPRO World 11, it England defender Alex Greenwood was the only Man City representative in the combined XI for 2024, though former players Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze also made it on to the list for Barcelona, with the latter making it a record seventh appearance.
Other Lionesses and Women’s Super League players chosen included former Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps (now playing at PSG) and Chelsea winger Lauren James.
To have not only multiple English players but so many with Greater Manchester ties getting the shout is an honour and testaement to the region remaining a vital hub for sport. Smashed it.
What do you make of this year’s FIFPRO World 11 and do you think they missed out anyone particular?
Danny Jones -
9th November 2024 
