BURY midfielder Lee Duxbury has had his contract terminated by mutual consent.

The 34-year-old Keighley-born player, who signed from Oldham Athletic at the start of last season, would be the first to admit things haven't worked out as he'd have liked since arriving at Gigg Lane.

Heralded as his best signing by then boss Andy Preece, Duxbury was initially installed as skipper and went on to play 38 league and cup games for the Shakers last season.

But he has been out in the cold this term and with manager Graham Barrow operating with limited numbers, the decision to part company gives the boss a better chance of securing the services of versatile defender Paul Scott who has been offered a deal and should sign this week.

"It's sad about Lee but I gave him the pre-season to see if we could get a bit more out of him and if he had a role to play," said Barrow.

"But his chances looked slender, especially the way the midfield have started for us so far.

"He has been a good professional and has had a great career but I don't think we ever saw the best of him.

"He has never let himself down on a day-to-day basis and always gave his all on the park.

"Maybe he has played his final league game because no-one ever knows when that day is going to come along.

"He goes with our good wishes because he's been a great lad."

A severance deal had to be agreed with Duxbury as he was contracted until summer 2005.

He is now expected to look for a coaching job, probably in non-league, where he can put the experience of more than 600 league and cup games to good use.

Barrow declared himself "absolutely gutted" following Saturday's 2-2 draw at Shrewsbury Town.

The manner in which his side tossed away a two goal cushion left him distraught, especially as the team had performed superbly for the best part of the game.

Slack marking at a free-kick and a corner kick proved the Shakers' undoing, perversely something they work at very hard in training.

But despite his disappointment Barrow still saw plenty of positives to please him.

"I thought we were magnificent for three-quarters of the game," he declared.

"We were the best team by a mile but we paid the price for taking our foot off the gas and giving silly free-kicks away, I'm absolutely gutted.

"We were so superior and that has got to be encouraging, but we must learn to finish the job off.

"We conceded both goals with all the team back in the penalty area and one or two people need to look at themselves.

"The right back scored the first goal and someone should have taken the responsibility to pick him up.

"You can't point the finger at the back three because they sniffed Luke Rodgers and John Grant out for all the game.

"One thing we have learned so far this season is that we can be a bit naive and we have to cut that out.

"But that said you can't be too down on the lads when they've played as superbly as that and I still believe we are going the right way."