Chairman answers United rap - Bury Times - Friday, 09 February 1996:
BURY chairman and chief executive Terry Robinson has answered an accusation that he unduly influenced the Football League after the Shakers' game at Scunthorpe was postponed for the second time this season. Tuesday's contest was called off because Bury couldn't get all their players together to travel. Heavy snow made it impossible for the Merseyside and West Lancashire based Shakers' stars to get into Gigg Lane. It was an explanation that cut little ice with with Scunthorpe United whose Glanford Park pitch had been passed fit for use. United chief executive Don Rowing, speaking on Scunthorpe's Clubcall line, slammed the Shakers for not using more common-sense. "I've known for 72 hours that there was snow on the way to the west side of the country and I would have thought Bury could have got their players into Bury to stay on Monday night," he raged. "If you want to play something or you want to do sometrrtng, then you find a way of doing it. I don't think Bury have made the effort to do that." Responding to a prompt that Bury had two players suspended, Mr Rowing replied: "We have a history of this, I mean the chairman of Bury was instrumental in getting the game off on Boxing Day. At that point the interviewer said: "We should say he (Mr Robinson) is on the league management committee. "Well as you rightly say he is on the league management committee and he has probably used his influence. I find it totally wrong," replied Mr Rowing. Mr Robinson insisted he had absolutely no bearing on events on Boxing Day other than to ask United for an eariy pitch inspection to prevent Bury fans having a wasted journey. "it's ludicrous to suggest I had any influence on either postponement decision," he said. "On Boxing Day we, Uke many of the fans, had already set off when the game was postponed and this week we made the correct approach to the league. "I note that the Bolton versus Leeds cup tie was called off partly because of worries about fans using the M62. "My first responsibility is to the supporters and the team of Bury Football Club. All I could do was put the facts to the league which is what we did."