JUBILANT Stockport boss Dave Jones today threw down the gauntlet in a sporting Championship challenge to friendly rivals Bury.

Jones celebrated County's success in following Bury in securing an automatic promotion place then set his sights on the title.

"Tell Stan Ternent that we're gunning for that Championship!" Jones said in a light-hearted tilt at the Shakers boss.

Ternent immediately accepted the challenge and returned it with interest.

"Tell Dave I'll play him for it on the golf course," was the sporting reaction.

Bury, who clinched promotion with a scoreless draw at Watford, go into Saturday's final league game at home to Millwall with the edge over their neighbours from Edgeley Park. Stockport, who secured the second promotion slot with a 1-0 win at Chesterfield last night, play their last game at Luton level on points with the Shakers but with an inferior goal haul.

Ternent is determined to see his team crown a magnificent season by lifting the Division Two trophy and says: "Whoever wins the Championship can claim to be the best team this season and that best team will have four letters in its name.

"If Dave Jones wants to dispute that I'll take him on in a round of golf.

"Seriously, though, theirs has been a remarkable achievement considering the number of games they've had to play. I'm delighted for them and for Dave.

"As for ourselves, if someone had said at the start that we'd finish second, we'd have been happy. But now that we've secured promotion we're getting a bit greedy and we're going all out to win the Championship on Saturday."

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