BURY new boy Gary Brabin's season is over.

The £120,000 transfer deadline day capture will sit out the rest of the campaign after being hit by a massive four-match ban.

Uncompromising midfielder Brabin received the extended suspension for his sending off for violent conduct in the recent victory at Scarborough.

It was one match more than the usual three-match ban the offence carries due to another sending off he received at his previous club Doncaster.

Only a dramatic Wembley recall could see Brabin figure in Stan Ternent's side this season. But with the Shakers still odds-on for automatic promotion - and Bury unlikely to change a winning team even if they did have to face a play-off test - the third biggest signing in the club's history now looks certain to be out until the next campaign. That could signal the way for the return of Tony Rigby who made way for Brabin although Ian Hughes will also stake a claim for the vacated central midfield berth if regular left back Nick Reid can shake off a hamstring strain which has kept him out of the last two matches.

Meanwhile, Bury will be hoping for a draw when Darlington travel to fellow automatic promotion rivals Hereford tonight.

A point apiece would mean both could only equal Bury's points tally should the Shakers - who boast a superior goals tally - win at Exeter City on Saturday.

That would leave Plymouth Argyle, who are three points behind Bury having played the same number of games but have scored more goals. Ternent, however, insists he is only concerned about how his own team performs.

"I'll not be looking too closely at what the other teams do. It is in our own hands and we know that if we win our last two games we will be promoted."

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