BURY Football Club’s board of directors has appointed a new chief executive.

Karl Evans will take on the new role at Gigg Lane, on Monday.

Mr Evans has worked at Manchester United for 26 years where he was director of venue at Old Trafford for the past 10 years, and served on the group executive board under former chief executive at United, David Gill.

The club thanked former Bury FC chief executive officers Glenn Thomas and Ian Kendall for their roles in previous years and both will remain at the club.

Mr Thomas will remain as vice chairman and will look after the new stadium and existing development in Gigg Lane, with Mr Kendall remaining as director of youth, looking at safeguarding and human resources.

Mr Evans moved to Prestwich when he was six years old before relocating to Whitefield, where he lived until eight years ago.

Now living in Rossendale, he says that the area is very special to him and he has always had a natural affection for the club and a deep passion for it to be

successful.

He said: “Bury FC was the first professional club I regularly watched in the 1970s. I have continued to attend when commitments have allowed over the years and my first ever footballing hero was Derek Spence.

“I was thrilled to get the call to go into Gigg Lane and have a chat.”

Mr Evans will work alongside club chairman Stewart Day. I have been monitoring the progress at the club over the last three years and was intrigued to know more about it and the people behind it.

“I have worked in football for 28 years and never met a more committed person than the chairman, with regards to making a football club successful and I instantly bought into what he had to say,”said Mr Evans.

His role will be to look at how facilities can be improved and the club integrated into the local community.

Mr Day said: “I am delighted that Karl has come on board as we look to take the club into the next chapter of this journey and with the ambitions we have.”

He is also tasked with improving the overall match day experience for fans so that Bury FC can become a self-sustainable club with increased attendances, making it a viable proposition for local businesses to engage with.

He added: “I don’t want fans to think I’m coming to make Bury into a corporate monster.

“I have spent the last 18 months working with a non-league club with league ambitions which involved lots of research and time visiting clubs that play in EFL Divisions One and Two so I understand the challenges, hurdles and potential pitfalls so will always be respectful and mindful of the clubs position and fans.

“I am a massive believer in communicating with fans and fully intend to talk to as many as I can either in group sessions or individually in my first few months to understand their feelings about the club and how we can take it forward together. I am just excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to get started on Monday.”