IT was one out and one in when the curtain came down on what must be one of the Shakers' quietest transfer deadline days on record.

Jason Jarrett's move to local rivals Wigan Athletic on Wednesday for a £75,000 fee was followed by the arrival of Blackpool's Phil Clarkson who is staying at Gigg until the end of the season.

But it was with more than a hint of frustration that Bury boss Andy Preece let the Bury-born midfielder go to the JJB.

Preece believes Latics boss Paul Jewell has got a real steal for his money especially as they were prepared to pay Bristol Rovers £1.2 million for striker Nathan Ellington also this week.

"I know the club needs the money but I feel that £75,000 is not even half of what Jason is worth," said Preece.

"I know he isn't the finished article yet but this is only his first full season in the league and he has bags of potential.

"I paid nothing for him and when he arrived he was on just over £100 a week and to be fair he wasn't on too much more than that before he left.

"It's doubly disappointing when you see how much Wigan were prepared to pay for Ellington, even another £50,000 would have been more realistic and would have helped the club even more."

With the players' wages currently being paid by the PFA the club had to apply to the Football League to bring in a new face.

Fortunately, or unfortunately as the case may be, the high number of injured players at Gigg Lane meant the League looked leniently at the situation and allowed the club to bring in Clarkson, a player Preece knows all about from his time at Bloomfield Road.

"Clarky was known as 'The Ghost' when I was at Blackpool because of his ability to ghost into the box and score vital goals," he added.

"He's been out of favour this season, is really hungry to do well and any goals he scores for us in the final few games could be crucial."

The 33-year-old midfielder goes straight into the squad for tonight's must-win encounter at fellow relegation strugglers Northampton Town.

And the Sixfields clash is closely followed by the Shakers' penultimate home game of the season when high-flying Brentford are the visitors to Gigg on Easter Monday (3pm).

"The Northampton game is a massive one and I feel we have enough in the team to go there and win. We need to show the same spirit we have in four of our last five matches.

Clarkson 'ghosts' in as JJ heads for JJB

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"If we can pull it off it puts a lot more pressure on the other teams as Bournemouth play Notts County on Saturday."

It's not hard to see why the Football League allowed the Shakers to bring in a new face.

Preece will be missing Gareth Seddon (back), Steve Redmond (hernia), Nicky Hill (ankle), Matt Barrass (knee) and Baichung Bhutia (knee).

While there are doubts about David Borley (groin), Chris Billy (groin), David Nugent (foot), Michael Nelson (hamstring) and Lee Connell (hamstring).

If that wasn't enough Jon Newby has a hamstring strain and has been suffering with an abcess in his mouth whil Sam Collins reported for training with a rash and sickness yesterday morning.

Clearly a lot is going to depend on how the sickness and injury list is this morning.

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