JERMAINE Beckford wants strike partner James Vaughan to stick around at Gigg Lane so they can light up League One together.

Vaughan is attracting interest from higher-profile clubs after netting 24 times last season.

Bury turned down a £500,000 bid for their start striker two weeks ago and it is understood there have been no further offers since then.

Beckford, who joined on a free transfer from Championship side Preston in May, says he understands Vaughan’s difficult dilemma on whether to stick or twist.

However, the former Leeds and Bolton forward wants to rekindle the partnership which was so successful when the pair played together at Everton and Huddersfield.

“My personal preference is that I want him to stay so that we can light up the league together,” Beckford told Bury Times.

“There is no surprise there is interest in him. It was a phenomenal feat, with no disrespect, to score 24 goals in a struggling team. I’d be concerned if there wasn’t interest.

“I have a brilliant relationship with him. I know all of his strengths and he doesn’t have any weaknesses.

“I know what makes him tick and really hope he wants to stick around for another year or two.

“But he knows he’ll have to figure it out. He has to think about himself and his family and what is best for them.”

Beckford penned a two-year deal with the Shakers after his contract expired at Deepdale.

The 33-year-old has an outstanding record in League One having scored 112 goals in 161 appearances – winning promotion with Leeds, Scunthorpe and Preston along the way.

“I’ve had a lot of joy in this division,” Beckford added. “I’m not sure why but I’ve just always enjoyed it.

“I’ve still got that hunger and that desire to be the best player that I can be and hopefully I’ll have a successful season with Bury.”

The forward will link up with his new team-mates for the first time today as the squad returns for pre-season fitness testing.

The players will be put through their paces at Carrington ahead of an anticipated promotion push and the prospect of a fourth promotion on Beckford’s CV sounds very appealing to the striker.

“After having a chat with the chairman and manager about the future of the club and how they want to get there I completely agreed with it,” he said.

“The vision that was not just to get to the Championship but the way they want to get there. The style of football sold to me was very exciting – attack, attack, attack.

“Lee Clark has done a very good job since he has been at the club and with the other acquisitions and the players kept on it is looking like a realistic dream.

“Sometimes when I’ve made moves in the past people have questioned ‘why has he gone there?’ but with the ambition of this club there was no question about it.”