It has been well over a month since former Bury boss Richie Barker departed for Crawley Town, but yet the League One club continue to stall over appointing a full-time replacement. Caretaker manager Peter Shirtliff had, until recently, been the hot favourite for the vacancy. However, with the Shakers rock-bottom of the table, he has been replaced at the top of the Next Bury Manager Odds market by former player Sammy McIlroy.
The club have reportedly drawn up a shortlist, with McIlroy, fellow ex-Shaker David Flitcroft and former Coventry City manager Andy Thorne believed to be the main contenders. McIlroy has been out of work since leaving Morecambe by mutual consent at the end of the 2010/11 season. He was in charge at the Globe Arena for five years, and has previously managed Northern Ireland, Stockport County, Macclesfield and Northwich Victoria. Meanwhile Flitcroft is currently the assistant manager at Championship side Barnsley.
Bury have endured a disappointing season in which they are yet to win a single match. They are bottom of League One after picking up just three points from their opening seven games, while they also made an early exit from the Capital One Cup. On Tuesday the Shakers were convincingly beaten 3-0 by top of the table Tranmere Rovers, which has now seemingly ended Shirtliff’s chances of getting the Bury job. The fixtures don’t get any easier for the club, who host seventh place MK Dons on Saturday. Paddy Power have handed Bury odds of 13/5 to grab their first win, while the Dons are the heavy 13/5 favourites to get the three points.
