CLUB captain Nick Daws has warned that this season's Bury team could fall apart if the situation at the club is not sorted out soon writes Steve Canavan

Daws spoke from the heart about the club he loves and told how he wants to be a Gigg Lane player in August but it depended on the "ambition" the Shakers board had.

The next month is critical for the future of Bury FC.

Unless a buyer is found and out of contract players are offered new deals it could lead to the biggest shake up of playing staff in Bury's history.

To start next season without manager Andy Preece, assistant boss Steve Redmond and the likes of Daws, Paul Reid, Chris Billy and Chris Swailes would leave the club facing an uphill battle to maintain their Division Two status.

Daws is as concerned about the future as anyone.

"I love being at Bury and I will be eternally grateful to them for giving me a chance in league football," said the long-serving skipper, who joined the Shakers in 1992 from non-league Altringham for a bargain fee of £10,000.

"If it could be guaranteed that this side was staying together, the gaffer was going to be here and we were perhaps going to add one or two players to the squad then I would love to stay - we all would.

"But I've always been ambitious, that's why I came here in the first place. The club has shown enough ambition for me to stay but the day the club stops showing that ambition, I'll have to take stock and then it might be the time to go.

"There is a great spirit at this club, not far off the spirit we had during our double promotion season. Andy Preece has built that spirit up and it would be sad if we had to break it up."

Ambition

Daws added: "We've worked hard all season and we should be able to have a great eight weeks off but I don't think many of the lads will because they don't know if they will be here next season.

"We've all mortgages to pay and it is a worry. I never duck a question but if you ask me whether I'll be a Bury player next season, I honestly couldn't tell you. No one knows what's happening and we're all taking it one day at a time."

DARREN Bullock's future is hanging in the balance after Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock said he would make an announcement "in the next week" about signing the Shakers midfielder.

Bullock went to United on loan, played six matches and impressed Warnock before suffering a hernia injury which ruled him out for the season.

"It's up to Sheffield United now and we're waiting to hear from them," said Preece.