In a last ditch attempt to salvage Bury FC, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright offered £1million of his own money to help save the doomed League One club.
The out-of-the-blue offer from the 74-year-old was made over a phone call between Kenwright and English Football League boss Debbie Jevans, reported The Athletic.
The phone call was made after Everton's chairman had attended his club's 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Friday 23rd August - the same day that Bury owner Steve Dale had until midnight on to prove he could fund the club or find another party who could.
Kenwright said he had been listening to radio coverage of Bury's plight during his drive to Villa Park and was inspired to help out in any way he could.
He admitted it was the supporters' despair that moved him to then ask Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale if there was anything they could do to help Bury - who by then had already had five League One fixtures cancelled.
Whilst Steve Dale and Bury supporters were making their desperate plea for emergency funding, they were not the only EFL club in the same predicament. Just down the road, Bolton Wanderers were also in a race against time to save their future.
However, Bolton were saved in the final hours as the club administrators announced a late takeover by Football Ventures Limited had been completed. An ending Bury supporters could have only wished for.
Barrett-Baxendale is understood to have facilitated the call between Kenwright and Jevans, which took place in the stands at Villa Park after fans had left the Premier League match.
Subsequently, Jevans declined Kenwright's £1million offer.
The EFL did not comment on the matter but did make it clear it is against league rules for an individual to have 'an interest or influence over more than one club' and that clubs are not allowed to 'directly or indirectly: lend to, gift money to, purchase future receivables from or guarantee the debts or obligations' of another club'.
Therefore, despite his act of generosity, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright would have been breaching the EFL rules by lending Bury FC money in their time of need.