The Exiled Files

Thursday, 13 August 1998

Eaves wants to keep top stars - Manchester Evening News:
Two Bury stars are pondering whether to snap up the most lucrative playing contracts ever offered by the club. Centre Back and skipper Chris Lucketti together with keeper Dean Kiely are the pair manager NW and owner Hugh Eaves are determined to keep at Gigg Lane. Eaves told the M.E.N sport today: "Negotiations are continuing, In real and pound note terms, they are the best contracts ever offered by this Club". The existing Contracts of both players are up at the end of the season, players - and under the Bosman ruling could move on without Bury receiving a single penny. That is why NW and chairman Terry Robinson, backed by millionaire Eaves, want them to sign the new money-spinning deals on offer. Eaves, who has invested £4m in the club admits the financial position is healthier thanks to elevation to the first division and coffers have recently been boosted by the £1m sale of Paul Butler to Peter Reid's Sunderland. The London based stockbroker described the fact that top assets such as Lucketti and Kiely are losing value because longer, new contracts remain unsigned as a "Nightmare". One option for the pair is a three-year deal that would net each of them over £1/2 million. Eaves said "The rules have changed with the Bosman ruling and the best players in the game will, and are, benefiting. We do have to balance our books but we do wish to improve the contracts of both Chris Lucketti and Dean Kiely". Eaves also revealed that Warnock who he describes as a "Proven Winner" is on a one year rolling Contract.

Bury Midfielder Mark Patterson has been transfer listed along with utility player Peter Swan. Playmaker Tony Rigby has seen a specialist with a groin injury and is a big doubt for Bury's trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Also today, I just received my copy of "Total Football" which has a 60 page pull out - The Ultimate Fans Guide to 1998/99. Below is the entry for Bury Football Club:

Headline - THE SHAKERS ARE QUAKING
After successive promotions, survival was Bury's aim last season, and they have succeeded - despite a pathetic lack of goals - by proving harder to beat than all the other lower half teams. But what now ? The fierce team spirit that saw them avoid defeat in 30 outings has been rocked by inspirational boss Stan Ternent's move to Burnley, along with sidekick Sam Ellis. Now instead of looking forward to progress, the fans are praying for miracles again. What became clear to Stan and everyone else is that there's still no big cash at Gigg Lane, and that a Board that's great in every other way just hasn't got the dosh for this Division. The new boss, NW, has a mountain to climb - but he can't even keep the squad together ? Fans who once were calling for more goals and attacking ideas will no just settle for holding on. It's frightening.
Manager: Neil Warnock - experienced old hand and probably as good as the Board could afford.
Boardroom BigWig: Hugh Eaves (9/10) - Bury would probably be extinct by now without him. If only he had more wonga...
Player to Watch: Paul Butler ????? (obviously written before he went)
Player to get shot of: Chris Swailes.
Bad Boy: A physical but surprisingly unmalicious team after Andy Gray left.
Style of Play: Heavily defensive, but not as "Route One" as of old.
Best of Enemies: Bolton - but don't be seen in Burnleys colours just now.
Terrace Song: "Come on, Bury"
Best Web Site: http://www.buryfc.creations.co.uk (Well done Carleton)
Strangest Merchandise: 1903 cup Final replica shirt
Top local boozer: The Pack Horse
If only we still had: Colin Bell (63-66) midfield giant for Man City & England, but more exciting in his teenage years at GiggLane
If Bury were a drink, what would they be: A can of Ternent's lager - drink what you want, then just chuck it away

Wednesday, 12 August 1998

There's bugger all in the papers to-night apart from last nights match report, which you can find on my match report pages funnily enough. What I have got is a little snippet from the Programme from Saturday's game against Huddersfield. It's concerning the "Cemetery End".
Many supporters are perhaps puzzled by the non-start of the previously announced redevelopment work at the Cemetery End of the ground. To confirm the situation, the plans have now got council approval but these plans and estimates for the final ground development have been submitted to the Football Trust. The Football Trust has recently been reformed and has still not determined the levels of grant aid, which are available. A recent meeting put back our proposals until their September meeting when both their policies and our proposals will be discussed. The club, as part of it's ground safety certificate has had barriers in the Cemetery End tested during the summer and we will be allowed to use this area for the 1998/99 season. However, the club, even if not able to attract sufficient grants to develop the Cemetery End as planned - will not be able without new terracing and barriers to use the stand again in any future seasons regardless of which division we may be playing in.

The commercial shop also has a full page spread in the programme advertising the first BURY FC FIXTURE CALENDER, which covers August 98 to July 99, Each month also features a famous Bury player of the past, 12 full colour player posters included and with all first team fixtures. Limited edition apparently and can be bought for a bargain price of £4.99.

Tuesday 11 August 98

Striker Joins the Exodus - The Bury Times:
Tony Battersby has joined Second Division Lincoln City in a £100,000 deal. The Doncaster born striker has been off-loaded to provide funds to enable Neil Warnock to strengthen other positions in the side. His departure on Friday was initially a loan arrangement as the appropriate paperwork involved in a permanent deal could not be completed before he made his debut at Bournemouth on Saturday. But the formalities were finalised yesterday and the Shakers re-couped most of the £120,000 that Stan Ternent paid Notts County for him last summer.

Shakers VIP Day - The Bury Times:
The Shakers are organising another of their popular VIP matchday packages for the Crewe Alexandria game on Saturday 22 August. Included in the £31 per person price is a car park pass, Bucks Fizz reception and a superb four course pre-match meal in the new pitchside restaurant (1pm). With Complimentary programmes, half time refreshments, full bar facilities, fin quiz and competitions and not forgetting a main stand seat for the match. A terrific afternoon is assured. Season ticket holders are being offered the deal for a knock down £22 so if any one is interested in signing up with the Commercial Department on .

Two Goal D'Jaffo gives Neil a Nudge - TARGET MAN - Bury Times:
French Striker Laurent D'Jaffo this week fired himself into contention for a Shakers starting berth. The former Ayr United and Montpellier star scored twice in the reserves at Carlisle on Wednesday evening to give manager NW food for thought as he looks to re-shuffle his striking combinations. The second string came back from 3-0 down to defeat the Cumbrians 4-3 with Danny Swailes and Nigel Jemson (Pen) also on Target. But D'Jaffo, who grabbed the winner with a diving header three minutes from time, will have done his chances no harm at all, especially after his lively performance as substitute against Burnley on Tuesday evening. Only two goals from two home games have underlined the lack of firepower up front and NW is keen to bring in re-enforcement's. "Andy Preece is playing well and working hard for us but we need that bit of consistency around him," he said. "We haven't got as much movement as I'd like and we need to get a little more strength up there but that's been the problem here for a couple of years, but we'll perseveres and we've got one or two things to look at." Definitely missing for tomorrow,s match at Ipswich is crowd favourite Tony Rigby who limped off only 11 minutes after coming on as a substitute on Tuesday evening. "We[re concerned about Tony, his injury is around the groin area that he had trouble with last season and he will have to see a specialist again."explained Warnock. On the plus side, full back John Foster is back in contention after his two match suspension. Ipswich will be a stern test for the Shakers who will hope to keep 11 men on the pitch after having Ian Hughes and Andy Gray red carded in last seasons 2-0 defeat at Portman Road. Town boss George Burley has his share of injury worries with Kieron Dyer (groin); Jamie Scowcroft (bruised foot) and Jason Cundy (ankle) all doubts. Former Shaker David Johnson is certain to start after featuring in two draws in the opening week. Sunday's televised league clash against Grimsby Town ended goalless but Matt Holland was on target in a 1-1 Worthington Cup first round stalemate at Exeter City on Tuesday Evening

Burnley close in on Patterson - The Bury Times:
Burnley are hot favourites to sign midfielder Mark Patterson, the latest Shakers player to be transfer listed by wheeler dealer NW. Thirty Three year old Patterson is seen as surplus to requirements by the new manager but could just be the man for Clarets boss Stan Ternent, who lost influential midfielder Mark Ford with a broken ankle on the opening day of the season. Ternent is a big fan of the tenacious Darwen born player and brought him to Gigg Lane from Sheffield United in a £125,000 deal last December. Patterson joins former Claret player Peter Swan in having his name circulated to league clubs, but Warnock has received no firm offers for either as yet, although Swan did turn down a chance to go on loan to Halifax Town before the start of the season. Striker Nigel Jemson is back in action after injury and that could alert West Bromwich Albion who enquired about the much travelled striker in the close season.

Match feature for tomorrows game - Manchester Evening News:
Unbeaten Bury make the long trek to Suffolk bidding for revenge. Ipswich did the double over the Shakers last season and even before their 1-0 April win at Gigg Lane, Town were not the most popular outfit in Bury having persuaded the Shakers to part with their leading scorer David Johnson in a £1 million deal. That piece of business helped Town into the play-offs and sent Chris Swailes to Gigg Lane. After a short run in the side and a debut day goal at Oxford he slipped out of then manager Stan Ternents plans. Under new boss NW however, Swailes is back in favour and will be in the side tomorrow, Warnock, who will be without the injured Tony Rigby, is unlikely to make many changes to the side that defeated Huddersfield 1-0 in the league and drew 1-1 with Burnley in the Worthington Cup. Defender John Foster, on loan from Man City, could come in at right back for Andy Woodward after completing a two match suspension. Gordon Armstrong and Laurent D'Jaffo are likely to be on the bench again.

The Manchester Evening News have produced a natty little pocket booklet, the new season pocket guide, if any of the exiles (not in the Manchester area) would like a copy, mail me with your snail mail address and I'll send you one. (It's only 50p). There are five pages of facts and figures on the mighty whites in it; below I have placed the main text from NW & Chris Lucketti.

The Manager: Neil Warnock.
There is nothing Bury Boss Neil Warnock likes more than ruffling a few feathers, And he's raring to clip the wings of some of the first division big boys. "I see some of the bookmakers reckon we are favourites to go down, well they've got it wrong," he said. "The last time I was told my team would be at the bottom of the league was when I was at Scarborough and we went on to win the title, I'm not daft enough to say that Bury are going to lift the title but no-one should under estimate us. I don't want anyone coming up to me and saying that success is staying in the division, Sure, it's a priority, but we can do a lot more than just survive".
Warnock has an impressive pedigree with five promotions to his name in his managerial career that has taken him from Scarborough to Notts County, Plymouth Argyle and Oldham Athletic. His style and reputation brought job offers from Chelsea and Sunderland, but he's not sorry that Bury is his latest staging post on football's winding highway. "I like everything about the club" he said, "The atmosphere and spirit within the place is fantastic. It is a great challenge to try and improve on what has gone on before I came, but every club I've ever been at has been in better shape when I've left it than when I arrived. I don't care how much money I've got to spend. If it's six quid of six million, I'll still be giving the job everything I've got, since I arrived here, the lads have been a different class and I'm confident of their abilities. We are going to need a bit of luck along the way because we can't afford three or four injuries to our better players. We don't have great strength in depth but given a bit of fortune we can make an impact."
Warnock, who has sold Paul Butler to Sunderland, and brought in Steve Redmond (Oldham), Andy Preece (Blackpool) and Dean Barrick (Preston) since succeeding Stan Ternent, believes the fans, too, can play a part in Gigg Lane's continuing success. "Now is when we need them more than ever," he insisted, "We need them vociferous and committed. We might be the underdogs but together we have a nasty bite and a loud bark."

The Captain: Chris Lucketti.
Bury's defensive powerhouse Chris Lucketti has no doubts that the Gigg Lane side will improve on last seasons ten month struggle. Skipper Lucketti, one of the clubs all time bargains having been bought for £50,000 didn't miss a game last term, although sometimes he probably wished he had. "We had a pretty dodgy, barren spell in the middle of the season and it almost cost us dear," admitted the £1 million rated, 26 year old. "I think we all learned from that experience and it won't happen again. We know what to expect this time around and we'll be on guard. "Our first aim is to ensure first division survival as quickly as possible. We cut it a bit fine last season; we dont want to go to the last game having to win to survive. I'm sure it won't come to that."
Lucketti, a target for Middlesborough, and a key figure in the Shakers three-year rise from the Third Division also-rans to established first division side, believes the change of management at Gigg Lane will make little difference to the side's confidence or ability to compete. "Neil Warnock's arrival has added a bit of spice," said Lucketti. "Players who were on the fringes have been walking around with a new spring in their step. Everyone starts with a clean sheet and there will be a lot of competition for places. Pre-season training was the hardest I've ever been put through. We pride ourselves at Bury as being amongst the fittest sides and I think we'll be even stronger this season. It's been fun rising through the divisions and we are not about to throw away all the hard work now. The new boss is very well organised and he has brought some good players to the club. Steve Redmond and Andy Preece have both played at the top level and Dean Barrick is very experienced. We can prove the doubters wrong and have a successful season.

WARNING SHOT - Neil's gunning for ex-Bury boss Ternent - Manchester Evening News:
Happy Neil Warnock will name an unchanged Bury Line-up for Stan Ternent's Gigg Lane return Tonight. And the Shakers chief is eager to pit his wits against the man who took the Shakers from the third to first Division. "The first round of the Worthington Cup can often be a non-event with sides trying to get through for a money-spinning tie against a Premiership side but this is a big contest in itself," he said. "Stan and Sam Ellis's return adds more than a bit of spice to the occasion, and there is bound to be a large, noisy crowd." It is one of those games in which it could be easy to get carried away and go hell for leather but we must be cautious. "We are in the division in which Burnley want to be and Stan will have his team up for the occasion and I expect both legs to be tight. It is one of those games where I wouldnt be despondent going into the second leg on level terms". Warnock was contemplating looking at other members of the squad tonight but reckons Saturdays 1-0 win over Huddersfield, Tony Ellis, and partner Rob Matthews need more matches under their belts. "Both Ellis and Matthews have had an interrupted pre-season and were shattered when I took them off on Saturday. They need games and I'll probably stick by the same team he confirmed." In contrast Ternent, whose side opened with a 2-1 home defeat of Bristol Rovers, has selection problems with midfielder Mike Ford out with a broken ankle and on-load keeper Paul Crichton refused permission to play by his club QPR. Teenager Paul Smith may replace Ford and Tony Parks will step in for Chricton.

I may have Tuesday's Bury Journal later tonight&&&&&..

Monday, 10 August 1998

SAME AGAIN - "Bury won't change" - Warnock - Manchester Evening News:
Neil Warnocks Bury blueprint will bear an uncanny resemblance this season to the guide followed by former Shakers boss Stan Ternent, Few will penetrate the Gigg Lane defence, goals will be at a premium, and there'll be endeavour and commitment in abundance. After just 90 minutes of the new Division One Campaign, it was clear it will be a case of "as you were" at Bury despite the summer managerial swoop. Having been handed a 10^th minute boost of seeing Huddersfield's keeper Nico Vaesen sent off, Bury's old scoring flaw meant emergency number one Marcus Browning enjoyed a reasonably comfortable afternoon. That despite the fact he was beaten just nine minutes after reluctantly taking up his new position. Despite debuts for free transfer men ex-Blackpool Striker Andy Preece and a 20 minute cameo for Frenchman Laurent D'Jaffo, plus an enterprising three man attack adopted by Warnock the new boss wasn't prepared to promise any goal avalanches. "The lads did as much as they can", said Warnock, "They're all going to be tight games because we haven't got million pound players. You are not going to see four or five goals scored by us. "Marcus Stewart (Huddersfield's £1.2 Mill record signing) did one or two things for them and you could see the quality of him, but we haven't got that sort of player". "We know we are limited but the passion and commitment the players show is unbelievable. We showed that Gigg Lane is going to be a fortress." Burnley born regular Gigg Lane watcher, Ben Thornley, making his debut for Huddersfield after a summer signing from Man Utd agreed with Warnock. "Bury's style is similar to the way Wimbledon used to play in the Premiership. Neil Warnock played that style at Huddersfield when he took them up to Div one in 95 and he's going to do the same at Bury. I was surprised that Bury didn't hurt us more when we went down to ten men, I thought they may have pressured us more." There was little time to ease into the new season before the controversy raged and helped to hand Warnock a winning start to his new career. Rob Matthews attacked a long ball by new boy Dean Barrick down the middle, and Huddersfield keeper Vaesen was forced into panic measure in his first real action in English football. The Belgian claimed Matthews toe poke struck his chest, Bury blamed the block on a hand, and referee Trevor Jones agreed with them. Significantly Vaesen pointed out that he dispensed with the bizarre tradition in Belgium which sees a red carded player apologising to the referee after a match because he didn't feel he had anything to apologise for? Stand in keeper Marcus Browning vacated his midfield role and incredibly should have been following Vaesen down the tunnel nine minutes later. Rushed into taking a back pass, Browning stepped out of his penalty area to collect a ball with his hands and committed the same offence as Vaesen. While his error was spotted by a linesman and a free kick given by policeman Jones, the latter conveniently overlooked the letter of the law this time. Huddersfield were still punished after Preece's free kick was drilled through the wall and Browning could only block it with his legs. Tony Ellis was onto the loose ball to poke in the winner.

OUT OF THE COLD - Senior Cup is Revived (Summary of text) - Manchester Evening News:
One of Soccer's oldest tournament's has been revived this season, the Manchester Senior Cup which was last competed for back in 79, will once again be up for grabs for North West Clubs. Four clubs will compete for this trophy this season, Manchester United, Manchester City, Oldham Athletic and BURY. Unlike previous seasons, this tournament will be run on a league basis with the top two teams going through to a play off for the trophy. Bury and Oldham Athletic will kick off this competition with a match at Gigg Lane on September 9^th with a 7:30pm Kick off. Run under the auspices of the Manchester County FA, the four competing clubs can field their first teams if they wish but are more likely to use the Senior Cup as an opportunity to "Blood" their promising young players.

Saturday, 08 August 1998

LENNIE JOHNROSE is hoping the new look Shakers will protect his nerves this season. The former Blackburn midfielder set out his hopes for the new campaign and he is desperate to avoid a repeat of last season's cliff-hanger finish. Johnrose believes Bury will improve now that they have a year's first division experience under their belts. "We should be more confident than we were last season," said the 28-year-old. "I think our aim this year is to finish higher up in the league and consolidate. It would be nice to end up in the top half of the table because I certainly don't want another nervous last day." "To be honest, it seems no time since the end of last season. It was more of an adventure back then, but now I don't think any of the players will be awed by Division One"."It is bound to be a long hard slog but we have to aim high. We need to score more goals this season and I reckon our new-look strikeforce of Laurent D'Jaffo, Andy Preece and Tony Ellis should do the business". Johnrose, who was signed from Hartlepool in a £20,000 deal five years ago, admits it will be strange for the Gigg Lane players after the departure of former boss Stan Ternent to Burnley. But he is confident Neil Warnock has enough experience to guide the Shakers to First Division Safety. "I know that Neil Warnock is very straight with the players and that is really all you can ask. He has a good pedigree at this level and I am sure he will have high hopes for the season.

RELEGATION TAG SUITS WARNOCK - The Pink:
You could never accuse Neil Warnock of being a shrinking violet. Bury's new Manager is the first to concede that his side are favourites to go down, but that is like music to his ears. He loves battling against the odds and is geared up for another fight to the finish this season. "Yes, we will be relegation favourites and to my mind that is justified," said the former Oldham boss. "But we have got to treat that as a challenge and I reckon we might surprise one or two people. We must have one of the smallest squads in the division but that is not always a disadvantage. "We need to foster a strong team spirit and that will be our secret weapon this season. Bury and their fans have proved before that you don't have to be a massive club to be successful. "It is never easy to come into a club and start making decisions before you have even seen some of the players in action. But you never get jobs in football at an ideal time." Warnock let Tony Battersby sign for Lincoln City in a £100,000 deal. Dean West will be out of action for six to eight weeks after recovering from an operation on his pelvis. The 25-yr. old defender travelled to Cambridge for the surgery after picking up the injury in the pre-season build up.