SHAKERS manager Andy Preece is reaching the end of his tether as the club's "will-it won't it" takeover saga drags on.

The uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the Gigg Lane set-up is having an unsettling effect on management and players alike and Preece reckons something needs to be sorted out quickly for all concerned.

"The situation is certainly not how I'd want it," he declared.

"I don't know exactly what my squad is going to be next year and to be honest I'm getting a little bit fed up because it's hard to plan.

"I'm gutted for the lads as well. I think people ought to understand that some of those players don't even know when they are going to get paid next never mind get long term contracts.

"That needs to be taken into consideration because the attitute they have shown has been out of this world.

"We really need to get it sorted out quickly as it's gone on far too long. To be quite honest I'm sick and tired of it all."

Preece was speaking after Saturday's 1-0 friendly defeat at Nationwide Conference side Southport.

The reverse was the Shakers' first in their pre-season programme but Preece wasn't too despondent about his side's display.

"Friendlies are a learning process and that the first game we've lost so I'm not too disappointed," he said.

"Our build-up has been a bit up and down so far. We put in a great display at Leigh then were poor at Accrington.

"We tried to play more against Southport but our passing let us down. I don't like to lose any game but sometimes it just isn't meant to be. We've still got two weeks to get things sorted out.

"Southport are a half decent team who did well last year and I can see them doing well again. They caused us a few problems."

Preece takes a squad down to Wales this morning for a three day trip. The Shakers take on newly-relegated Swansea City tonight (7.45pm) then follow up with a match against League of Wales outfit Caernarfon on Thursday before returning home on Friday. Macclesfield Town are the opposition on Saturday at Moss Rose.

THE Shakers closed doors match against an Oldham Athletic XI on Friday morning finished 0-0.

In the Bury line-up was former Manchester United winger Ben Thornley who is looking for a club after being released by Huddersfield Town.

Thornley was understood to be having talks with Reading over the weekend while Aberdeen are also believed to be interested in taking him to Scotland.

With the current situation at Gigg Lane uncertain the chances of the Bury-born Thornley signing for the Shakers look remote at the moment.