Peter Shirtliff In The Running For Bury Town Job

With just three days to go until their first competitive match of the season Bury Town have begrudgingly started the search for a new manager following Richie Barker’s departure to fellow League One side Crawley Town. On Tuesday the two teams agreed a compensation package for Barker, who signed a two-year deal with the West Sussex club. The appointment ends Crawley's long-standing search for a new manager after former boss Sean O'Driscoll had shocked the club by leaving for Nottingham Forest just two months after signing for the Red Devils.

Bury’s assistant manager, Peter Shirtliff, has been placed in temporary charge of the first-team while the board complile a list of contenders for the job. The 51-year-old is the early favourite with Stan James in the Next Bury Town Manager Betting market. He has previously managed Mansfield and worked as an assistant manager at Tranmere Rovers and Swindon, as well as a coach at Barnsley and Leicester City. Former Barnsley boss Mark Robins, Wrexham gaffer Andy Morrell and Dean Kiely are also being touted as possible replacements.

Bury's season starts on Saturday when they tackle Middlesbrough at home in the Capital One Cup. At the moment it looks like Shirtliff will be in charge for that game, with the board hoping to name a permanent replacement before their first League One match of the season against Brentford on August 18th.