THERE are serious concerns for the financial future of Bury Football Club following a decision by the Football League to impose a transfer embargo on the Gigg Lane outfit.

The Bolton News and Bury Times can reveal that the club did attempt to sign former Leeds full-back Ben Parker on non-contract terms last week, only for the move to be blocked by the League.

There was confusion after Bury announced the deal in a statement, but later took it off their website.

Manager Kevin Blackwell denied that the club had signed Parker after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Leyton Orient, but refused to comment further on the circumstances behind the on-off signature.

It is not clear at present why the embargo has been imposed, with the Football League refusing to even confirm its existence.

The club’s chairman, Brian Fenton, was unavailable for comment, but it is thought that Bury could have either reneged on a loan, which has been brought to the attention of the League, or it has breached the terms of a cap on its wage bill.

It is now understood that the six players on loan at Gigg Lane, including Wanderers’ midfielder Gregg Wylde, will have to return to their parent clubs either straight away or when their deals expire on January 3.

And Bury will not be allowed to replace them in the January transfer window, putting at risk the good work done by Blackwell to turn the club’s season around since taking over in September following a start of nine games without a win.