BURY'S fixture programme for the coming season will be announced this week, with the draw for the first round of the Carabao Cup due to take place in Bangkok tomorrow and the release of the League One fixtures on Wednesday.

The Shakers are unseeded in the Carabao Cup, the new name for the League Cup, meaning they could face one of nine Championship clubs in the northern section of the draw, such as Bolton Wanderers, Leeds United or Sunderland.

But manager Lee Clark is not too bothered about the opposition early in the campaign as he is confident a tough pre-season run-out will stand his side in good stead when League One kicks off on August 5.

“It is an exciting time and we look forward to the fixtures coming out,” said Clark, who will host newly promoted Premier League outfit Huddersfield Town and one of the top tier's relegated sides Sunderland in a testing six-match pre-season programme.

“With the matches that we have in pre-season the games will stand us in good stead for when the season comes.

“It has been a long time since we were last together because the League One season finished in April, so it will be good to crack on again.”

Clark’s transfer business has been thoroughly impressive so far this summer with 21 departures and eight arrivals.

The former Huddersfield and Birmingham boss’s latest additions, defender Eoghan O’Connell and midfielder Jay O’Shea, signed from Celtic and Chesterfield, respectively, at the tail end of last week.

O’Connell penned a three-year deal after an undisclosed fee was agreed, while O’Shea signed up for two years on a free transfer.

“Eoghan O’Connell is a player I know very well,” Clark added. “I tried to sign him last January for Kilmarnock but he wanted to move south instead.

“I know he is highly regarded at Celtic and I’ve had to bide my time but he ticks all the boxes for me.

“He is a very talented player who can develop with this club. I ear-marked him early on and I am delighted with the deal we have struck.

“Jay O’Shea, in terms of his CV, has promotion from League One and went up as a champion.

“I know they (Sheffield United) offered him a new contract and he turned it down, but there were still five or six clubs after him.”

Rumours circulating in the Lincolnshire press on Tuesday suggested Bury were battling League Two Grimbsy Town for the signature of former Shakers loanee Nathan Clarke, who is a free agent, but Clark denies he is in the market for any more defenders.

He said: “Nathan Clarke is a great lad. The link possibly came from when we worked together at Huddersfield but I am happy with what I have got now.

“We don’t need any more defenders.

"I have made four major signings in Phil Edwards, Joe Skarz, Adam Thompson and Eoghan O’Connell, and with Craig Jones and Nathan Cameron coming back they will be like two new signings as well.”

Full list of Bury's potential first-round opponents in the Carabao Cup: Barnsley, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City, Burton Albion, Derby County, Fleetwood Town, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Preston North End, Rochdale, Rotherham United, Scunthorpe United, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland and Wigan Athletic.