Bury weigh up double offer

BURY have signed classy defender Jamie Stuart until the end of the season - but it will not mean much if the Shakers sell Chris Armstrong and Jon Newby.

The club has accepted Oldham Athletic's bid for the duo but both players want to stay.

Bury accepted because they need the money but the fans will be hoping both Newby and Armstrong stick to their principles and refuse to go.

"As soon as the gaffer told me about the Oldham bid I said I don't want to leave," said Newby, who reckons he has found the perfect club in Bury after his move from Liverpool.

"The money they have offered me is similar to what I get here but it is nothing to do with the money. It is about being happy and for the first time at a club I am really happy here."

Armstong was also somewhat underwhelmed by the transfer talk. The 19-year-old revealed he went to Oldham on Friday with his brother Gordon to discuss the move. He added: "I don't want to go but we'll have to see what happens."

At least Stuart is staying. The former England under 21 international put pen to paper this morning.

"We've signed him until the end of the season and a lot longer if he carries on like he's started," said Preece. , after watching the new boy produce a sprakling display against Chesterfield (regular left back Armstrong is still out of action after the concussion he suffered at Cambridge last week).

"We were a little bit lucky in getting him. We spoke to an agent, I said we needed cover at left back and Jamie's name came up.

"He paid for himself to travel up. I saw him once in training and thought we'll have him. You can see he has real quality."

Preece's relief Bury 2 Chesterfield 1

By Steve Canavan

AS Andy Preece gave his after match press conference, a TV screen above him showed one of these programmes where a women was in tears of relief after overcoming a traumatic challenge.

It Preece had broken down and wept after this, no one would have blamed him.

Just recently a Bury win has looked about as likely as George Bush telling Osama Bin Laden: "Let's forget all this war talk. Come round to my place and have a cup of tea".

This was the Shakers first league victory since the opening day of the season and lifts a massive weight off the shoulders of the under-pressure manager.

You could almost taste the relief around Gigg Lane when two terrific second half goals from substitute Gareth Seddon turned the match on its head.

It is just a pity that the three points will be overshadowed by transfer talk.

Despite both players wanting to stay at Gigg Lane, Bury have accepted a £450,000 bid from neighbours Oldham Athletic for Jon Newby and Chris Armstrong.

"I don't know what they will do but I want them to stay," stressed Preece. "I think it speaks volumes that even though we are bottom of the table both the lads want to stay here.

"They know we are building something at this club and they want to be part of it."

Back on the pitch, it was the strangest of games.

For an hour Chesterfield looked as though they would stroll away with the points.

As Newby said: "They were miles ahead of us. We were poor and everyone in the ground could see that."

Chesterfield - who had not won a league game at Gigg Lane since 1946 and still ain't- went in front inside three minutes; Luke Beckett powering a shot into the bottom corner after the Shakers defence failed to clear a throw in.

Struggling

They could have had three more in the next six minutes alone, Beckett twice and Steve Payne missing good chances.

Bury were struggling and only created one real opportunity, Michael Nelson heading wide from Paul Reid's corner.

Teenager Paul O'Shaughnessy made his Football league debut, coming on on at half time to do a man marking job on dangerman Beckett.

But still the visitors looked superior and only Nelson's goal-line clearance prevented David Reeves from doubling the scoreline.

Then, in three incredible minutes that proved Jimmy Greaves was spot on with his funny old game adage, the Shakers scored wice.

On 64 minutes Newby did superbly well, beating a man on the left and crossing low where Seddon applied a great flicked finish. Before the crowd had time to settle, Seddon struck again, latching on to Jason Jarrett's fine through ball and finishing from 18 yards with a low drive off the post.

It brought the previously critical crowd to their feet, as it did the manager who leapt from his dugout and punched the air in delight.

Jarrett missed a sitter to make it three but it didn't matter. The Shakers held on. "I am ecstatic," said Preece. "They were two great finshes from Gareth. He's so confident you'd think he had played about 200 times and scored a hundred goals. Hopefully he'll carry on from here."

We'll find out soon enough. Bury travel to table toppers Brentford tomorrow.

BURY: Kenny 7, Forrest 7, Murphy 4, Reid 7, Redmond 7, Jarrett 6, Nelson 8, Newby 8, Syros 7, Singh 6, Stuart 8. Subs: SEDDON 8 (for Singh 39), O'Shaughnessy 7 (for Murphy 46), Garner, Clegg, Whiteman. ATT: 2,898

BURY BOOKINGS: Syros (foul 45), Nelson (foul 52), Reid (foul 87).

REF: M Cowburn (Blackpool) 7. AS Andy Preece gave his after match press conference, a TV screen above him showed one of these programmes where a women was in tears of relief after overcoming a traumatic challenge.