Manchester United and Manchester City have been asked to “step up to the plate” and help struggling neighbours Bury by a local MP.

The Sky Bet League One team have yet to play a game this season because the EFL is unhappy with the financial state of the club and have been threatened with a withdrawal of their league membership.

Now Ivan Lewis, the Independent MP for Bury South, has called on the Shakers’ Premier League neighbours to assist and for a further meeting of stakeholders to find a way forward.

“I urge Manchester City and Manchester United two global footballing giants to step up to the plate and see what they can do to help save the club,” he wrote on Twitter.

“The clock is ticking and we now need a new approach as a matter of urgency.”

United and City have been contacted for comment, along with the EFL.

Bury owner Steve Dale, who bought the club in December 2018, said on Monday he is still working on a deal to sell to new ownership.

The EFL announced on Thursday afternoon that Bury’s league fixture against Rotherham, due to be played on Tuesday of next week, had been suspended.

It means the first five of Bury’s opening fixtures will have been called off, following three earlier league fixtures and a Carabao Cup tie.

The statement from the EFL on Thursday read: “The EFL Board has taken the decision to suspend Bury FC’s upcoming League One fixture with Rotherham United on Tuesday 20 August 2019 as the outstanding evidence regarding a number of financial commitments has still not been provided by owner Steve Dale.”

Local politician Lewis called on Dale, the Forever Bury supporters’ trust, James Frith (Labour MP for Bury North) and the leader of the local council to meet with him urgently.

“We cannot allow strong feelings and differences of opinion to end with the club going out of existence,” Lewis wrote.

Bury were deducted 12 points last month after entering a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA).