THE plight of crisis clubs Bolton and Bury has prompted vastly differing opinions from two EFL club managers.

On Monday, both clubs were ordered to prove they had the funding to enable them to start their respective League One seasons.

And, while Wanderers were given the go-ahead from the league, the Shakers' opener against MK Dons has been suspended.

The unenviable situation may draw sympathy from fellow clubs in the lower divisions. But Carlisle United boss Steven Pressley is not among them, insisting both clubs deserve to be banished from the EFL for failing to operate within their means.

"I think the current football world is not a fair world," the Cumbrians' manager told local station CFM Radio. "Clubs like us should get more credit than we get.

"The problem in football is clubs like Bury, clubs like Bolton, who have overspent and not worked within their means and in a way could be described as cheating to gain success, aren't penalised heavily enough.

"These clubs should be banished from the Football League and clubs that are run properly should benefit.

"What actually happens is supporters get frustrated that we can't compete with these clubs, but actually we maybe can – it's just that they're not spending within their means.

"It brings a pressure to clubs that are run properly, like ourselves, clubs like ourselves should be credited for working properly and this is one of the problems in the game just now.

"It's about getting the best out of the resources we have but still having the ability to pay the players' and the staff's wages every month and that's a responsibility that the club takes very seriously."

While Pressley is happy to kick both clubs when they're down – both of the local clubs have already had 12-point deductions imposed upon them, with further punishments likely for failure to fulfil fixtures – Burton boss Nigel Clough took a more sympathetic view, and says there is enough money involved in the English professional game for the big-hitters in the Premier League to do more to help the smaller clubs.

The Premier League does distribute payments to each EFL club annually, but Clough would like to see clubs in the top flight use their infinitely greater finances to aid those at the sharp end.

“It’s very difficult but I think there’s enough money in football at the moment to look after everybody," he said. "I would look up for it. When there are billion-pound TV deals and everything, I think the Football League should have just a little bit more.

"I think it’s been the lifeblood for many years in providing players for the Premier League and even the international team – you’ve got the likes of Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire. I think there’s an overall responsibility to try and look after those clubs.

“There were quite a few [clubs] that went out of business many years ago and dropped down the leagues and restarted. I hope it doesn’t come to that. That’s why I think there’s enough money in football for it not to happen and I hope somebody steps in and saves them.

"I don’t think there are too many sane people looking to buy football clubs. What do they say? The quickest way to go from being a billionaire to a millionaire is buy a football club.”