Ellis back at Bury SAM Ellis today returned to Bury as number two to manager Stan Ternent.

Former Shakers boss Ellis, who left Gigg Lane five years ago when the club was plunged into a cash crisis, is the shock choice as assistant to Ternent.

In an eventful 18 months in charge Ellis turned the Shakers into one of the top sides in the old Third Division, losing out on a place in Division Two in their first ever appearance in the play-offs.

He was aided by major shareholder Hugh Eaves' bulging chequebook which enabled him to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on players as he repeatedly broke the club's transfer record.

He left Bury to become number two to Peter Reid at Manchester City before an unsuccessful spell as manager at Lincoln City where he was sacked the same day that former Bury boss Mike Walsh parted company with the Shakers this season.

Meanwhile, Bury have been hit by a flu bug which is threatening manager Stan Ternent's hopes of naming an unchanged side for the fourth successive game on Saturday.

Midfielder Ian Hughes is struggling with the bug which forced him out of Tuesday night's 2-0 victory at Torquay after half an hour and defenders Chris Lucketti and Ryan Cross are also hoping to shake it off before the Third Division clash with Darlington in 48 hours.

But the Shakers have players returning from injury who would be able to step into their shoes should the bug rule them out.

Midfielder Lenny Johnrose and defenders Michael Jackson and Andy Woodward are all on the road to recovery although the Shakers would prefer them to get more reserve games under their belts before returning to first team action.

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