CHAIRMAN Stewart Day’s ambitious target of turning Bury into a Championship club within five years was the key factor in Danny Mayor’s decision to sign a three-year deal.

The Sheffield Wednesday winger, who was voted player of the year by his Bury team-mates following a successful season-long loan, was prised away from the Owls this week for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £100,000.

“Everyone is pulling in the same direction, everyone wants promotion and that’s why I signed here,” said the 22-year-old Leyland-born midfielder, who started his career at Preston.

“If I thought we would be staying in League Two then I don’t think I would have signed.

“The gaffer has set out his stall and all of the players are aiming for the same thing.

“Bury is an up and coming club. You have heard all of the plans the chairman wants to do and I am just happy to be part of it.”

After a season of transition following his takeover last summer, Day now wants Bury to start moving up the divisions, beginning with automatic promotion from League Two next season.

Mayor’s signature is seen as a first step towards achieving that, with even bigger signings rumoured to be waiting in the wings.

Manager David Flitcroft fuelled the growing anticipation amongst Bury fans, but warned potential targets he was not about to blow his budget.

“We are working on one (signing) at the minute that, I have got to be honest, it’s so exciting it’s incredible,” he said.

“As a club we have got to live up to the ambition shown by our chairman, but he recruited me because I understand value for money.

“We have got a top-seven budget, but with that budget I am going to make sure we get every ounce out of everyone associated with Bury, whether that is players or staff.

“We have set our stall out with the professionalism we are trying to show. People from League One are contacting us and want to be a part of it, but they also know they are not going to get massive wages.

“The players we are talking to know we are not just going to lie down and let them tickle our bellies.

“It helps sift out the mercenaries, who haven’t got a chance of coming to Bury Football Club, believe me. They have got to want to be part of the plan and if they don’t they are no good to us.”