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Knill in seventh heaven

David Lawrenson
3/ 7/2008

MANAGER Alan Knill is more confident than ever of the Shakers having a successful season in League Two following a hectic week of comings and goings at the Gigg Lane club.

The Shakers have made seven signings this week.

They have brought in defender Efe Sodje and midfielder Stephen Dawson from Gillingham and Mansfield respectively.

Bury have also unveiled Chris Wilder as Knill’s new assistant manager and re-signed striker Glynn Hurst, midfielder Brian Barry-Murphy, left back David Buchanan and keeper Cameron Belford.

But fellow out of contract player Nicky Adams has turned down a new deal at Bury to join League One side Leicester City.

Knill concedes that it is a big blow to lose the up and coming midfield star, who will cost Leicester a fair chunk in compensation having come through the youth system at Gigg Lane with the exact amount likely to be settled by a tribunal.

But Knill has been planning for Adams’ departure for weeks and he has players lined up to replace the 21-year-old.

Knill is hoping to unveil a new striker signing by the end of the week.

And he says that Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is happy for Elliott Bennett to return to Bury following the winger’s successful loan spell last season.

Knill said: "I am confident that we will have a good season.

"The squad is coming along nicely. And we have signed the majority of our players in time for the start of pre-season training this week, just like I’d planned.

"I now have plenty of time to work with the players and get them playing like I want them to play. We just want one or two more players to come.

"I’ve spoken to Elliott Bennett and Mick McCarthy and they are all happy for Elliott to come back. So, hopefully we can do that.

"We are also hopeful of getting the striker we want. If it doesn’t work out then we will go for the other targets that we’ve got. We’ve spoken to a few players with the idea that if we miss out on one, we will go for another."

Knill is delighted with this week’s glut of signings.

Thirty five-year-old former Nigerian international Efe Sodje, who shone on loan at Bury last season, and 22-year-old Republic of Ireland under-21s international Dawson have both penned two-year deals, as have Barry-Murphy and Buchanan.

Hurst and Belford have agreed one-year contracts and Wilder has ended his six-year reign as Halifax Town manager to join his good friend Knill’s Bury revolution.

Knill, who admits to being disappointed to have lost such a talented player in Adams, said: "Efe was excellent for us last season. We were desperate for him to come back and are relieved to have got our man.

"There were quite a few clubs interested in Stephen and we’ve done very well to get him. He’s somebody that I’ve liked for a long time. He’s full of energy and he puts his foot in. The only thing missing from his game is a goal but he does have it in his locker so we will just have to work on that.

"Barry-Murphy has turned down deals from other clubs. He did really well for me last season. He was probably one of our most consistent players.

"Buchanan just kind of fell into the left back position last season but he did really well. So we have decided to teach him to be a left back. He will be a good one because he has all of the qualities that you need.

"I am delighted that Hurst is staying. I get on really well with him and he is really good in the dressing room. He has a lot of influence around the place, especially among the younger players.

"As for Belford, you look at his size and you think ‘question mark’. But Neil Cutler (Bury’s goalkeeping coach) has worked with him and he’s so athletic. He has a good attitude and, with proper coaching every week, I think he will flourish.

"Wilder is someone that I’ve known for a long time. We were at Southampton together and have kept in touch.

"He’s been a manager for six years. He knows what it is all about and the most important thing for me is that he brings me knowledge I’ve not got – of non-league football.

"I don’t know too much about non-league football as I’ve not had time to watch it. But, as we have already seen, there are plenty of players in non-league that can do a really good job for us."