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Squad to improve

Dave Lawrenson
15/ 5/2008

MANAGER Alan Knill is convinced that Bury will have a stronger squad next season – thanks to the Shakers’ impressive form since he took charge in February.

Knill says that the Gigg Lane club’s sparkling run of results is proving to be his trump card in his negotiations with transfer targets and Bury’s six out of contract players.

He is confident that midfielders David Buchanan, Brian Barry-Murphy Nicky Adams and Dale Stephens, striker Glynn Hurst and goalkeeper Cameron Belford will all accept their new contract offers.

And he has been greatly encouraged by the initial responses of the transfer targets he has contacted this week.

Knill said: "I am confident that the six out of contract players will be staying. They have told me that they are happy with the way we played towards the end of the season. They can see that we are trying to build something good here but they know that we can’t afford to hang around for them to make a decision. I want an answer from them pretty soon.

"If they all say yes then we will have a good foundation for next year’s squad. We would then just need to add a few more players.

"We’ve made enquiries about signing Efe Sodje and Elliott Bennett permanently. And we are keeping an eye on two other players that we had on loan last season – Darren Randolph and Adam Rooney.

"I have also spoken to some potential new signings this week.

"The problem is that other clubs want to sign the players that I want to sign. So those players will weigh up their options and eventually make a decision.

"But the good thing is that the players that I’ve spoken to were willing to speak to me. I wasn’t sure that they would do that. But, again, the way we finished last season has been a big help.

"The budget is tight, which I knew it would be. But it’s up to me to sell myself and the club as well as I can.

"I released eight players last week but I am confident that we will have a stronger squad next season.

"If I didn’t believe that I could bring in the players to achieve that goal then I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place."

Knill wants his 2008/09 all but complete for the start of pre-season training on Tuesday, July 1.

He said: "I prefer it that way. If your squad is only half finished by the time that pre-season training starts you can’t do much work in pre-season.

"At worst I want to be bringing in just one or two players after the start of pre-season. So I am going to be busy over the next month and a half."