THE timing of tonight's transfer deadline shows the footballing hierarchy are "not bothered" about the lower leagues, says Bury boss David Flitcroft.

The summer window will close at 6pm, less than two hours before Bury's first-round Johnstone's Paint Trophy match is due to kick off at Accrington.

The Lancashire derby is one of 16 ties scheduled for tonight involving sides from Leagues One and Two.

“I don’t think the transfer window is for League Two and League One,” said Flitcroft.

“All eyes will be on what is going on in the Premier League – it’s built for the Premier League.

“There is a fixture programme that nobody in the hierarchy will be really bothered about."

Flitcroft is working on deals to add players to his squad, and must also decide whether to let youth-team keeper Jack Ruddy go, with Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Man City both interested in signing him.

Ruddy’s future has been complicated by a groin injury to first-choice keeper Christian Walton, leaving the possibility Bury could go into tonight’s tie with Rob Lainton as their only senior stopper.

“We’ve got the Tuesday night game but you have still got to try to do your business," added Flitcroft.

“Could they have put it (the transfer window) back to Wednesday because of that fixture – possibly – but they haven’t.

“We will see if we can get anything over the line but if not we will have to work really hard on getting our injured players back in the team and fit.”

Thankfully for Flitcroft, Bury’s injury list is starting to thin out.

Ryan Lowe came off the bench on Saturday for his first run-out since suffering an ankle injury against Accrington at the start of pre-season.

Winger Craig Jones has also recently recovered from a groin problem while star striker Leon Clarke is close to a return from a hamstring strain.

Midfield anchorman Kelvin Etuhu remains a major doubt, however, after undergoing a scan on a foot injury yesterday while Walton, Danny Nardiello and Keil O’Brien have all been ruled out.

Despite seeing his side struggle to cope with the rigours of eight matches in the first month of the season, Flitcroft is hopeful the injury list is starting to thin out.

“If I get Kelvin back and Leon back, Joner, who has missed a lot of minutes in pre-season, and Ryan then we are talking about four outstanding League One players there,” added Flitcroft.

“So I see some hope.

“(Defender) Reece Brown (groin) won’t be a million miles off and we have seen the emergence of (youth graduate) Matty Foulds.

“So we are stretched, but it is up to us now to get those players back on the field.”

Despite the awkward timing of tonight’s League Trophy tie, Flitcroft remains committed to putting out a strong side for what represents a route to Wembley.

“It’s a game we want to win, we want to win as many games as we can,” said the Bury boss.

“I feel as though we can be competitive in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. I have a real ambition to be competitive in every game we play this season and Tuesday night will be no different.”