Football Season Guide

Bury are coming from another surbulent summer, which saw them lose a number of players, but also sign a number of promising replacements. They have lost three out of four members of their back four in Peter Clarke, Chris Hussey and Joe Riley, while their top scorer Leon Clarke is also gone and has joined Sheffield United. However, the Shakers have invested money in new signings as well - Rangers' striker Nicky Clark will be seen as an exciting signing after going well in the Scottish second division last time around, while the likes of Greg Leigh, Anthony Kay, Leon Barnett, Zeli Ismail and Neill Dans are all very much proven players at Championship and League One level. The Shakers, who used seven different goalkeepers last season, also seem determined to not have to loan in any goalies this time around, as they have completed the captures of former England international Chris Kirkland as well as Bradford man Ben Williams, and it is currently unclear who their new number one will be. It needs to be noted that the squad overhaul that they have had may have well been necessary, as they lost their momentum in the second half of the previous season and avoided getting dragged into the relegation race mostly thanks to the points they accumulated in the first half of the campaign. On paper, they once again have a decent squad and will be looking to at least somewhat improve on their last season's finish.