EFL hints at extra time for Bury’s rescue act

Bury have been handed a lifeline as they battle to preserve their Football League status with the EFL hinting they could be given extra time if a deal is close.

The League One club have been given until 5pm tomorrow to secure their future, with owner Steve Dale in talks with data analytics company C&N Sporting Risk over a potential takeover.

However, EFL executive chair Debbie Jevans has suggested that deadline could be extended if only “one per cent” of the deal remains to be completed, while at the same time reiterating her warning that the governing body will not allow any more games to be postponed.

Jevans told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek show: “If we get to 5pm on Tuesday in the board meeting and there is one per cent, it would depend what that one per cent is.

“What we’re not going to do is this cannot go on for weeks and weeks and weeks.”

Meanwhile, the pressure is growing on Stoke City manager Nathan Jones after the 3-0 home defeat by leaders Leeds in the Sky Bet Championship.

His side remain without a league win this season and have recorded just four victories from 25 matches since he took charge last January.

Asked whether he has the support of the owners, Jones said: “Yeah, as far as I’m aware. I’ve got a good relationship with them, they see the work we are doing but that won’t continue forever. I know that.

“I do feel we are making big strides but we haven’t got the rewards we should have had.”

Stoke are bottom of the table with just one point – the same tally as Huddersfield Town, who will this week step up their search for a replacement to Jan Siewert, who was sacked after just one win after 19 games in charge.