NEVILLE Neville, chairman of the Save Our Shakers Appeal Trust which has rescued Bury FC from extinction, has revealed how he disposed of a string of 'timewasters' who nearly killed the club off.

In a detailed address to all Bury's supporters' associations, Neville explained the takeover process from the nervous day when Bury went into administration up to the relief of last week's announcement.

And that included using all his power and persuasion to brush off five rival bidders, whose stalling Neville claimed almost strangled the life out of the club by making them miss their May 31 deadline.

"We had about five people, I will not name them, who had all indicated that they wanted to take this football club over.

"We called a meeting to explain the details of our bid and that immediately eliminated one of the candidates. He had called a meeting but cancelled it as soon as he heard about ours.

"The next one was with a gentleman who had been linked with the club for a long time. I met him and had an hour-long conversation with him. I met him again and had another hour long conversation with him.

"In the end, it was becoming boring. I sent our treasurer Peter Metcalfe to the man and he came back with a promised investment of £300,000.

"That eased our whole situation but I still didn't really trust him so I called another meeting with him to ratify his proposal.

"He came to that meeting but had completely changed his tune. He wanted the earth and it became evident that what

he wanted me to do was blow him out. So I didn't disappoint him. Away he went.

"We then had another investor, who had got himself into a corner. He was finding it very difficult to get out of. He was being threatened, he was being bullied, he was being exposed and he was a frightened man.

"I had a long meeting with him and gave him the opportunity to be eased out of the bid, which he obviously accepted.

"The final one was a little bit more difficult, because these people had already bid for the football club and it became evident that I had not got the money or the power to shake them off.

"So we had to press on but, because of their involvement, the target to wrap this up by the end of April was not met.

"We were called in by the administrators and asked to pledge another £95,000 to take us to May 31. That sickened me again, so I contacted the people concerned and asked them outright if they were buying the football club because we could not match their bid. Because word had got around about how much we were raising, he said to give him £300,000 and we would go in together!

"I told him we would never go into partnership with him. We would shut the club before I would see that happen.

"He asked me again but when I again refused he said 'The football club's yours. I wish you well and hope that you can get it out of the mess it is in.' So then we had a clear run."