SHAKERS have eased their financial burden by offloading midfielder Jason Jarrett to Division Two rivals Wigan Athletic for £75,000.

Jarrett has been a regular in the Bury first team since arriving at Gigg Lane from Wrexham on a free transfer less than two years ago.

But, after making 71 appearances for his hometown club, he has been allowed to leave as Bury desperately attempt to scrape £400,000 together before their April 26 High Court deadline or face going into liquidation.

Latics initially enquired about the 22-year-old former Wrexham and Blackpool star several weeks ago but seemed to have lost interest until reviving the deal yesterday.

Jarrett passed a medical and agreed personal terms with Wigan manager Paul Jewell yesterday.

Bury co-chairman Fred Mason said the club needed to sell a player to dig them out of their cash crisis.

With no funds available to replace Jarrett, Shakers must now rely more than ever on a golden nugget to emerge from their academy set-up.

Cue talented young striker David Nugent, who came off the bench to make his first team debut against Port Vale last week at the tender age of just 16 years 10 months and 21 days - just 192 days from breaking Brian Williams' 30-year club record.

Nugent, an exciting first year trainee from Liverpool, has been going down a storm in the youth leagues and manager Andy Preece says he will get the chance to realise his potential during Shakers' survival battle.

"He has been doing well in the reserves and Gareth Seddon has been struggling with an injury," he said.

"Bhaichung Bhutia isn't ready yet because he's been out for a long time, so I thought Saturday's game was an excellent opportunity to give David a run out.

"He could have had a goal on his debut, too, but for what looked like a handball. He got a good strike on the ball but the defender's arm took the pace off it.

"He's only 16 but I feel he's got the presence he needs to make an impact."