Bury FC attempting to get early flight to Island tomorrow

Club responds following travel disruption today (17 Feb)

Bury FC are making attempts to travel to the Isle of Man early tomorrow morning for their NWCFL Premier Division clash against FC Isle of Man.

The visiting side's travel earlier today was affected by  poor weather before it was confirmed the match - originally scheduled for 6pm tonight - would not be held this evening due to the disruption.

FC Isle of Man has since released a statement on the situation, saying it had secured flights for the travelling Bury FC party this evening but that Bury had already left the airport in Manchester.

However, in another statement this evening (17 February), Bury FC has claimed FC Isle of Man's suggestion of players refusing to fly this evening and that there was room on an evening service is 'misleading.'

During Saturday, it was announced plans were being formulated to potentially rearrange the match for an 11am kick-off time on Sunday morning (18 February), further details are still to be confirmed.

You can read Bury FC's latest response in full below:

"Unfortunately the players have been unable to get to the Isle of Man today. We are now trying to get them onto a 7am flight tomorrow morning.

The players were told definitively at 3.30pm today at Manchester Airport that there was no way they would be able to board the last flight to the Isle of Man at 6.10pm tonight. If there was the slightest chance of flying they would have stayed. 

"FC Isle of Man issued a statement suggesting there was room on the flight and the players refused to return and board it. This is misleading as there was no realistic chance of the players returning to the airport and onto the plane in time to fly when requested. 

"We are disappointed with the approach they have taken, given it serves only to further frustrate the supporters who have travelled in their numbers to the island. The players care deeply about playing, and having spent many hours waiting at the airport would not have left if they thought there was any opportunity to get on a flight. Many live a good distance away from Manchester Airport and travelled by public transport to get there.

" We are acutely aware of how frustrated our supporters will be having spent time and money travelling to the Isle of Man. We want to reassure them that the players and management team did and are doing everything possible to play this fixture."