Probe over Bury lock-out fiasco

The queue of hopeful spectators locked out of the half-empty ground

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Hundreds of Athletic fans were locked out of the club’s relegation scrap at Gigg Lane on Saturday due to safety fears.

Latics chairman Simon Corney has described as “poor” the circumstances leading up to the lockout.

Home officials claimed the ground’s away end was full before kick-off — and decided to stop any more getting in as 300 Oldham supporters queued outside,

“It is not right, it is poor. You have to question what has gone on,” said Athletic chairman Corney.

“Whether Bury selling tickets on the day was the right thing, or whether police who are sometimes quick to blame clubs have done their job properly, I am sure there will be a proper investigation.

“I am sorry for any trouble it has caused.”

In an official statement Bury FC later apologised and promised to investigate.

“We are extremely disappointed to see supporters turned away,” officials said

“We shall be meeting with the club’s safety department and the police to ascertain what went so badly wrong.”

Bury commercial director David Manchester, meanwhile, said that it was difficult to estimate the number of Athletic fans who would travel.

““I think they sold 900 tickets and suddenly more than 2,000 turned up. You can’t legislate for that,” he said.