UNREST among players and uncertainty regarding Bury Football Club’s immediate future has underlined the importance of balancing books for Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens.

Unparallel feelings of euphoria and joy are but a distant memory for Shakers’ fans, after players revealed this week that they have not been paid for 12 weeks – despite confirming their automatic promotion into League One on April 30 when drawing to Tranmere.

Events at Gigg Lane prompted Wellens to emphasise the importance of balancing books – despite some Town fans’ anger and frustration towards Lee Power after we revealed the club’s budget has been frozen for the 2019-20 season.

Wellens said: “It’s a tricky one. As a manager, I want as much money possible for my budget.

“And the supporters want the best players and success. But you have to balance it.

“Look at Bury. Yes, they’ve had success. But their budget was totally out of what they could afford.

“They have celebrated now and won promotion. But they might not have a club in the next couple of months, no one knows what is happening.

“I’m respectful of the chairman. At the end of the day, the chairman keeps the club running.

“As long as the club remains afloat and we continue to try and point ourselves in the right direction, then I think people can see positives.

“Our club is financially stable, there are a lot of worse clubs out there.”

In the case of Bury, players last week issued a joint statement calling on club chairman Steve Dale to leave his role.

Dale, who took over the running of the club in December, has put the club up for sale – after reportedly buying the club for £1.

Part of the players’ official statement read: “The PFA stepped in to help us with March’s wages, which we are grateful for.

“But, unfortunately, this is not a long-term solution. Right now, we should be spending some well-earned downtime while we are out of the season.

“Instead, we find ourselves having to consider the future.”