HORWICH pensioner Beau claims he and a secret group of friends could be less than a week away from buying Bury Football Club.

The 71-year-old -- who lives in a sheltered housing complex -- says he belongs to a consortium of investors preparing to pump £23 million into the cash-starved team.

Nearly Red Management is said to include eight millionaires all hoping they will get the chance to rescue their beloved team.

And church organist Beau, who legally adopted his name 30 years ago, says they will go to the High Court in London on Tuesday to try to seal the deal.

He said: "We will be at the High Court at 11am. By noon we could be ready to transfer our money to Bury Football Club. I am the only spokesman for the consortium. The other investors are not going to make their names known."

The consortium is reported to have lodged three cheques totalling £15 million with the High Court as a show of faith.

These were said to comprise £1.3 million for shares, £1.5 million for the club and a further £13 million for investment.

The cheques, it was claimed, were returned by the High Court -- along with a judgement barring Nearly Red from bidding for the club until "preferred bidders" had made their intentions clear.

Beau says the consortium is now getting ready to head back to London. If held, the hearing will come just a day after the club's legal team appears in the High Court to fight for the club's survival.

Beau says Nearly Red could put £23 million into Bury FC over the next 10 years. He says its investors are worth a total of £460 million.

However, the Shakers are still waiting for Beau and Nearly Red to show the colour of their money.

John Smith, one of the club's chairmen, said: "The High Court has not been in touch with us to say Nearly Red will be there next week and our solicitors have not been in touch with us either.

"Beau has been contacting us for the past two weeks. We hope he is genuine. At this stage we cannot rule him out."