BURY'S pre-season plans have been dealt a blow with the news that Marvin Bryan has signed for Second Division rivals Rotherham United.

The 24-year-old right sided defender/midfielder joined the Millers on Tuesday and that's sure to be a disappointment for boss Andy Preece who had high hopes of securing his signature on a one or two-year deal.

The Paddington-born 24-year-old utility man made seven full appearances and three as substitute after his friend Preece signed him from their former club Blackpool on transfer deadline day.

But the former Queens Park Rangers junior only signed to the end of the season and it's clear that the Millers ability to offer him more money must have swayed his decision not to continue with the Shakers.

There was also some sad news in the Gigg corridors when the death of former manager Dave Russell was announced.

Russell (86), who died after a long illness on Monday evening, was the longest serving boss in the club's modern history, holding the reins for eight years from 1953 to 1961.

Only Archie Montgomery, back at the turn of the century, stayed longer in the Gigg hotseat - and that was only ten weeks more.

He played his football in Scotland for Dundee and East Fife before being transferred to Sheffield Wednesday.

After the war he joined the Danish FA as coach to their Olympic team and joined Bury in 1950 to take up a similar position.

After the resignation of John McNeil in November 1953 Russell was immediately promoted to manager and in his first match he masterminded a Second Division victory over Nottingham Forest - the club's first in nine games! The hierarchy kept faith in him when the club was relegated to Division Three North for the first time in it's history in the 1956/57 season.

Then after three seasons of team building he put together a side that clinched the Third Division championship and gave the Shakers faithful their first title for 66 years.

Despite being one of the Second Division frontrunners early in the following season Russell decided to part company with Bury in December 1961 joining Tranmere Rovers even though they were a division below the Shakers.

He believed - and how prophetic his thoughts were - that his Second Division outfit deserved bigger crowds that that the Wirral club had greater potential. He could still be found behind the scenes at Prenton Park 20 years later.

He is survived by his wife Gladys, two sons David and Robin and two grandchildren Jane and Mark.

Committal will be at Landican Crematorium, Birkenhead, 3pm next Monday (June 19).