FORMER Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant manager's job at Bury.

The 51-year-old, who also enjoyed managerial spells at Macclesfield Town and Stockport County, is the bookies favourite to replace Graham Barrow - who was sacked on Monday.

Former Manchester United defender Chris Casper has been given temporary charge of the club, but Shakers directors have already hinted that Barrow's successor will need experience of lower league football.

McIlroy has been linked with the Gigg Lane post on a number of occasions in the past, but until now, had always been affiliated with a club.

He admitted the prospect of a return to the Shakers, where he spent three years as a player in the early 1990s, would be an interesting proposition.

He said: "I only found out on Monday night about Graham leaving the job, and obviously Chris Casper is there at the moment. Until something happens there, I don't want to upset anything.

"I loved my time at the Bury. It was towards the end of my career, and the crowd up there were all so warm and friendly. I have some very good memories of the place.

"Although I am waiting to see how things go for now, it would certainly be something that interested me if things were right."

After retiring from a glittering playing career, McIlroy guided Macclesfield from the Conference to successive promotions in the late nineties before taking up the post of Northern Ireland manager in 1999. He spent three years as an international coach, bringing through young talents such as David Healy and Warren Feeney before leaving the post in 2003.

He took over from Carlton Palmer as manager of Stockport later that year, but had a miserable time at Edgeley Park as the club slumped to relegation.

Other names who have been linked with the post include former Mansfield and Stockport boss Carlton Palmer, and ex-Liverpool striker Ian Rush.

Only two names have been confirmed - with former Shakers favourites Paul Hilton and Peter Farrell confirming they have applied for the post.

Shakers director Ian Harrop warned that the club would not rush into an appointment.

"The person we want to appoint has to meet the criteria of the way we want the club to go," he said.

"We want to make an appointment sooner rather than later, but if it takes a month to find the right man, so be it."