NORMAN Smurthwaite fears Bury Football Club could be “finished” after his plan to save the club was turned down.

The former Port Vale owner was in discussions up to this morning with the EFL and the C&N Sporting Risk group, who have just announced their own takeover plan has failed.

The EFL have given the Shakers until 5pm to conclude the sale but serious fears have now been raised that the collapse of the deal could spell the end of the club’s 125-year stay in the league.

Smurthwaite had asked the league to consider an “unorthodox” proposal which would see Bury play away from Gigg Lane while the issues with the stadium’s mortgage were being sorted.

A new company would be created, to which the EFL’s golden share could be transferred, but Smurthwaite felt the club would have been able to continue.

“The EFL said they were not going to do it, so I fear the club is finished, I’m afraid,” he said.

“I tried my best. The football creditors would have been paid and the genuine creditors in the CVA would have got their money.

“We discussed it Saturday night, this morning – I even said to the group who were buying the club ‘come on, let me step in and do this.’

“They said they wanted a solution to save Bury and I gave them it.”