Tranmere’s match at home to Bury on Saturday has been called off as the troubled Gigg Lane outfit continues to fight for its existence.
The EFL announced today that the game would be suspended in the same way that all of Bury’s matches this season have been.
The Shakers have been thrown out of the Carabao Cup (League Cup) today after the EFL handed Sheffield Wednesday a bye in to round two, and the organisation’s statement even went as far to begin explaining what would happen to League One should Bury miss Friday’s deadline of proving they have the funds to sustain themselves. It doesn’t look good for them.
Sadly, owner Steve Dale has reportedly turned down an offer to buy the club this week as well, an offer which apparently would have safeguarded their future and allowed them to begin playing games. It’s a sorry state of affairs.
The news comes just 24 hours after Bolton Wanderers took it upon themselves to postpone their clash with Doncaster Rovers tonight due to so-called welfare concerns over the welfare of their ‘young side’. They’ll almost certainly be given a further points penalty by the EFL.
It’s an odd step taken by Bolton who were thrashed 5-0 at Tranmere on Saturday. Despite the constant reporting of Wanderers fielding a “young side”, Phil Parkinson’s team actually only featured three players under the age of 18 (all of whom were 17) and had four starters who were in their mid-to-late 20s.
They had a few 18-year-olds in there, but that’s a common age to be playing first team football – if they are good enough. Perhaps therein lies the problem…
Whatever you make of the goings on at these two troubled clubs right now, the EFL has a lot of work to do in just about all areas of its governance. Moaning about some of their abysmal referees seems quite petty given the numerous clubs bogged down with financial issues and disgraceful ownership. Let’s not get started on the Leyland DAF trophy, or whatever it is now.
