Skipper Luke Chambers says he’s surprised that clubs haven't gone out of business before ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bolton Wanderers, along with Bury one of two League One clubs currently in administration.

While Bolton are hopeful that their takeover by Football Ventures will be concluded soon, they currently have only five senior players and Tuesday’s game at home to Doncaster was called off by joint-administrator Paul Appleton due to welfare concerns regarding the club’s young players.

Manager Phil Parkinson and his assistant Steve Parkin left the club earlier in the week having handed in their resignations and Jimmy Phillips, the Trotters’ academy manager, has been put in temporary charge.

Bury’s situation is even worse with the Shakers, who have had their first five League One games postponed and forfeited their Carabao Cup tie, facing expulsion from the EFL on Friday unless they can provide confirmation of the “source and sufficiency of funding” for paying debts of £2 million owed under a company voluntary arrangement and for the season ahead.

If Bury do exit the EFL after 125 years, League One will be reduced to 23 teams with only three teams relegated this season.

“It’s well documented about Bolton’s financial problems and then you see what’s happening at Bury as well. There has been talk of them going under,” Chambers told the club site.

“From what I have heard Bury spent a lot of money trying to get back in League One. They threw loads of money at it and that’s always dangerous.

“Look at the size of this club, with 24,000 coming through the gate and what [income] did the owner lose with relegation - £9 million?

“I’m surprised clubs haven’t gone out of business before. More money from the Premier League filtering down to the lower divisions would help.

"You’d like to think there should be help from the football family but if you start paying out well above what you are bringing in, any business is going to be in danger.”

Chambers was at Portman Road today to sign autographs and have selfies taken with youngsters at the Junior Blues Football Festival, along with Freddie Sears.

Meanwhile, returning striker Will Keane has opted for the number 48 shirt, his squad number when he was at Manchester United and on loan at Sheffield Wednesday earlier in his career, with 14, which he wore last season, now owned by Jack Lankester.

Photo: TWTD

Fatboy added 14:43 - Aug 22 They have. Accrington Stanley being one.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 15:19 - Aug 22 You'd have thought Man C or Utd or both could have stumped up a contribution in the name of regional solidarity. After all, it's probably not even a week's wages for them.
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Saxonblue74 added 15:37 - Aug 22 Fatboy, Stanley are in lge1?
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jdtractor96 added 15:46 - Aug 22 Rushden & Diamonds did in 2011. Growing up I went to a lot of games with my Dad. We live in Bourne (Lincolnshire) but my Dad was born in Rushden and still has family there. I now support the phoenix club AFC R&D. The old ground was demolished and the new phoenix club started at step 10 of football (coincidentally they were in the same league as Bourne to begin with!). There's a lot to read about the demise of R&D and the short history of the phoenix club for anyone who is interested. My Grandad supported ITFC hence why I am a tractor boy too. I play football on Saturdays so don't get to many games for either team these days. That doesn't stop me from checking the scores as soon as I can!

2

jdtractor96 added 15:50 - Aug 22 p.s me and my brother were in Meppen supporting Town earlier this summer, so don't think we are plastic fans!
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SouperJim added 15:59 - Aug 22 Saxon Accrington Stanley Mark 1 went under in the 60s, the current club are Accrington Stanley Mark 2!
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OzzieOsbourne added 16:04 - Aug 22 Saxonblue, the Accrington Stanley in League 1 was formed in 1968, two years after the collapse of the original Accrington Stanley FC (1891). Remember the milk advert?!
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 16:05 - Aug 22 Accrington Stanley collapsed in 1966, 75 years after forming. It was reformed in 1968. Chester City, Newport County, Darlington F.C are other teams that went out of business.
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runningout added 16:05 - Aug 22 it's obvious we have too many professional football clubs in England.
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Edmundo added 16:26 - Aug 22 There's been clubs go under before. Football is cyclical, and you can bet on more change from the top again in a few years when the heat is felt by the "bigger" clubs. Semi pro lower leagues (1 and 2) are a good idea but can you imagine the impact? Falling into League One and being forced to effectively fire your entire squad? We would take years to recover. Another answer is having a closed Premiership A and B above two semi pro leagues 1 and 2. We wouldn't be there though, on recent form.

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TractorRoyNo1 added 16:43 - Aug 22 Bradford Park Avenue
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Saxonblue74 added 17:47 - Aug 22 .....ah,ok. Thanks Ozzie.👍
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Northstandveteran added 17:49 - Aug 22 Old Etonians
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Skip73 added 18:00 - Aug 22 So, Bury are in danger of going bust over a debt equalling 1 months wages for Alexis Sanchez. Football is in a sorry state.
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AlanG296 added 18:19 - Aug 22 Bury spent money they hadn't got to get promoted, ahead of other clubs who lived within their means. The fans enjoyed the success so can't see any reason to feel sympathy for them now. It's no coincidence that the 2 clubs in trouble are in greater manchester/Lancashire. With the pull of the Premier League clubs in Manchester and Liverpool there are far too many small clubs in the area to be sustainable. Accrington have done it right. They know they will never significantly increase their attendances do live within their means.

3

ITFCsince73 added 18:49 - Aug 22 Agreed Chambo. Especially clubs paying average players £10k per week wages. ITFC being a perfect example. Coke, Bru amongst others left after seeing out contracts. Hardly, if ever playing but being financially set up for life.
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Dissboyitfc added 21:21 - Aug 22 Steve itfc in sweden, Man City did help they gave them the use of their old training ground, rent free on the condition they maintained it something they neglected to do. Apparently its in a right old mess! why would Man City want to help further? Apparently there are a further 6 clubs close to going under, say what you like about Evans but we are not one of them!
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Saxonblue74 added 06:50 - Aug 23 Modern day football is a business first and foremost. It always baffles me how some clubs are still in business when any other form would be closed down for continually trading at huge losses with no financial backing to cover them. In life we are expected to live within our means, if we fail to do so there are consequences. Bury FC adopted a high risk strategy that backfired. My sympathy lies with the fans, but NOT the club as a whole. To those who question where our multi millions of signings are over recent years I say take a look at the plight of Bury and be thankful. Bluearmy 81, what's your opinion on this?

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rabbit added 12:32 - Aug 24 Saxon if you check the Phil Parkinson comments section, bluearmy_81 wants ME to write the debt off and walk away! Brilliant strategy from a supposed ITFC supporter! You really couldn't make this stuff up.
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