NEIL Danns has thanked new Bury boss Ryan Lowe for “bringing him back from the brink of retirement”.

The midfielder has starred for the Shakers since Lowe took over as caretaker manager.

Danns signed a new one-year deal at Gigg Lane last week, and says he preferred to remain at Bury rather than take up any of the other offers he had been made.

And he says much of the reason for wanting to stay and try to help relegated Bury get back into League One at the first time of asking was because of Lowe, who was appointed permanent manager last week.

“It’s a pleasure to re-sign,” he said.

“On a personal note, it’s been good being given the captaincy and getting the goals.

“I’m obviously disappointed with how the season’s gone but we’ve just got to put that behind us now, and it’s a new beginning.

“Lowey’s come in; he’s full-time and is one of the main reasons I’ve signed at the club.

“He’s probably brought me back from the brink of retirement in terms of how I was feeling mentally at the beginning of the season to the position I’m in now.

“He’s allowed me to prove myself and show there’s still another two to three years left in me.

“I’m just thankful, and if anything, he’s the main reason I have re-signed.”

In an interview with the club’s website, he added: “There was other interest, but I’ve seen his loyalty and the sort of person I am I thought it only right that I pay that back and I’ll be giving my best to get the club back up to League One next season.”

Danns made 28 appearances last season, most as captain, and scored five goals.

Lowe said his first task as permanent manager was to tie down his captain.

“Once I knew the job was mine, the first port of call was to Dannzy,” he told the club’s website.

“He’s been phenomenal for me.

“I like to think I’ve reignited his career in terms of bringing him back into the fold and giving him the captaincy, and he’s repaid that.

“He wanted to repay the faith in me to stay and sign the contract.

“It’s not about money with Dannzy. He could have gone to other clubs – he potentially had three other offers on the table.

“I sat down with him and I told him what I wanted from him and that he was going to be a big part of us going forward.

“He said ‘right, get the contract drawn up’ and he got it signed, so fair play to Dannzy, he’s stuck to his word the same as I’ve stuck to my word that if I got the job, I would offer him a contract.

“He’s a big player for us going forward next season.”

Seventeen players remain under contract while, youth team scholars Dougie Nyaupembe, Saul Shotton and Wealth da Silva have been offered professional contracts.