CHRIS Billy and Colin Cramb bid farewell to Gigg Lane this week with one already regretting his move to Cumbria and the other still hopeful of a new Bury deal.

Billy this week joined Third Division rivals Carlisle United while Cramb was among a host of players either released or transfer listed by Bury in a bid to slash the club's wage bill.

Scottish striker Cramb, thrown a mid-season lifeline by Shakers boss Andy Preece after 13 months in the football wilderness, failed to reach the heights of his previous spell at the club.

But he insists the Bury faithful were expecting too much too soon and predicts a stronger campaign next year, whoever he plays for.

"The second time here hasn't been as enjoyable as the first time," he admitted.

"I think the fans expected a wee bit too much out of me. I have been out of football for 13 months with a bad injury and I have only been back playing about ten or 11 weeks. I've not had a pre-season.

"Once I get a pre-season behind me, I know I will be back to the same player that I was the first time I was here."

Billy joined the Shakers in September 1998 and endured a tough baptism as his patchy first campaign incurred the wrath of the Bury fans.

But that all changed when he picked up the Player of the Year award the following season and he conceded that leaving the club was not a happy occasion.

"Apart from the relegations, it has been brilliant here," he said.

"I've got on great with a good set of players and a good set of lads. It didn't start off well with the supporters. They took a while to warm to me and, to be honest, I don't know if they have warmed to me now. But I think I won most of them over.

"I have loads of regrets about leaving Bury and I would like to have stayed here, but Carlisle made it quite clear that they have ambitions and they made it clear that they would like to sign me."

". It's a great club and even my little son likes it here, I don't know how he is going to take to the change, but we will see."

His first season at Gigg Lane was not the best and he was often ridiculed by supporters, he went on to claim the play of the season award in hi second year. Ceebs left Gigg Lane this week for pastures new at Carlisle and we took the chance to have a quick chat with Chris about his Gigg Lane career.

I got the player of the season award from the fans in my second season. It's always nice to be appreciated like that."

"Team spirit has always been good here. It's as good now as the first day I got here. It's never been a problem here and its something I will miss. I will be signing for Carlisle this week, I don't know weather it's a better opportunity for Chris Billy,

Cramb

"I need a pre-season; I have been back here for ten or eleven weeks now. I want to get myself sorted and get a pre-season behind me. Last Tuesday night was disappointing at Bournemouth. A lot of players froze on the day and the big occasion got to them. There were a lot of players that didn't perform."

"It's disappointing, especially with the good away record the club has. It was disappointing, but that's football. The lads will come back stronger next season and the gaffer will have everyone rallied round for next season and I have no doubt this club will get back to the second division."