Welcomed by Players - The Pink - Saturday, 04 November 1995:
BURY'S own SAS could be the key to promotion season at Gigg Lane. That's the view today from the soldier-turned-striker Phil Stant who believes the employment of Sam Ellis as manager Stan Ternent's assistant may well boost the Shakers' chances. Top scorer Stant, aged 33, said: "Sam joining Stan means we have even more experience and that is important because we are all learning as players. "Sam Ellis is an experienced manager in his own right and will be helping the gaffer out. He's feeling his way a bit at the moment but is getting to know us all having only previously worked with Gary Kelly, lan Hughes and Dean West." Stan added: "We are all looking forward to working with Sam who, no doubt, has some new ideas to offer. It's a good move and will benefit everyone. "In fact, together with our much-improved league form it's just what we need as we prove the critics wrong and get back in the groove for promotion." Slant's prediction that two away wins would catapult Bury up the table came true, but the Shakers could only draw at home to Darlington last weekend and crashed out of the Coca-Cola Cup in controversial circumstances against first division Reading on Tuesday. Ellis, the former manager at Gigg Lane who left to be No 2 under Peter Reid at Manchester City, has returned via Lincoln. Tement has been looking far and wide for an assistant since taking over from Mike Walsh in September. His choice of Ellis has raised eyebrows on the terraces but big Sam does have vast experience, is local and has a reputation as a disciplinarian.