BURY head into a busy Christmas period full of confidence and with one immediate aim - to save their manager from a bit of stick writes Steve Canavan of the Bolton Evening News
The Shakers take on Blackpool tomorrow, a club Andy Preece captained and the place where he still lives.
And defeat would leave the Bury boss in for a fair spot of ribbing from his neighbours.
"It's a while since I played for Blackpool but I still live there and all my neighbours are Blackpool fans," revealed Preece.
"I want to be able to walk out of the front door without getting a bit of stick.
"But it's a difficult game for us. I watched Blackpool against Leicester earlier this year and they looked a very good passing side.
"However, there are only five points between us and them and if we win tomorrow that will be down to just two. And when you think that most people would agree that Blackpool have had a good season, it shows we are are not too far away."
The fixture is made even spicier by the fact that Seasiders boss Steve McMahon tried to sign Bury striker and new skipper Jon Newby for £200,000 recently; a bid which Preece described laughable.
Bury turned it down immediately. But yesterday Blackpool did have some success in the transfer market, splashing out £50,000 on Aston Villa forward Richard Walker.
He will make his debut against Bury but Newby - the Shakers only ever-present this season - will be keen to show who the top striker is.
"He is looking forward to the game," confirmed Preece. "Blackpool have not been back with a bid for Jon and even if they did return with an absolutely massive bid which we couldn't turn down, I'm not sure Jon would want to go anyway."
Bury's hopes of having a happy festive season will be boosted by the return of suspended pair Paddy Kenny and defender Danny Swailes.
Kenny is likely to go straight back into the team against Blackpool though the unlucky Swailes may well find himself on the subs bench. He is unlikely to dislodge Sam Collins from the back five after the big defender's superb display at Notts County last Saturday.
One player who definitely won't feature is Leeds United winger Harpal Singh.
Preece rubbished reports that the Yorkshire side want more than £1million for the player but did admit they were asking for "a substantial figure". With Bury still in serious financial trouble, the club simply cannot afford to buy him.
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