SHAKERS ever-present Nick Daws is poised to sign a new contract and end speculation that he is ready to join Burnley.

The 29-year-old star has been given assurances of the club's ambition to make an immediate return to Division One next year and is all set to sign on the dotted line this weekend.

Daws, who still has two years remaining on his existing contract, has been linked with a move to Turf Moor in recent weeks but the offer of the Bury captaincy and a healthy pay rise looks certain to tempt him to stay on for another season at least.

Manager Neil Warnock said: "We are very optimistic Nick will stay with us. We have put forward a very good offer to him because we value his services.

"He has played three years without missing a game, which is a tremendous effort, and we have gone as far as we can with the deal.

"Hopefully he will do the right thing. He has promised us an answer by Sunday when he is going on holiday."

There was more good news for the Shakers this week when striker Kemajl Avdiu agreed to a new one-year deal.

The Swede will be back at Bury for pre-season training after a loan spell with Partick Thistle.

"We rate Kemo and we have told him he has to try and work his way into the first team," said Warnock. "We released him on loan at a time when he didn't fit into the team formation. Now we have decided to play a more attacking game we will be trying to find a role for him."

Of the other players offered new deals, both Dean West and Steve Redmond have yet to respond. West is almost certainly joining Burnley, while Redmond is away on holiday.

Meanwhile, the chase is hotting up for Chris Lucketti.

The Bury skipper is wanted by a host of clubs with the phone lines busy at Gigg this week.

"There are a couple of interested clubs but we can't say who until we have had an official bid," said Warnock.

Blackburn Rovers are still favourites to land the star with Wigan Athletic close behind, although their signing of Barnsley's central defender Arjan De Zeeuw on Wednesday may lessen their interest.

Warnock has not ruled out the possibility of a player-plus-cash deal for Lucketti - indeed that may be a strong option.

"We were offered player-plus-cash for Chris last season, so I would not rule that out. It depends whether the two parties can agree on valuations," he added.

With Lucketti certain to head out of Gigg Lane hot on the heels of Dean Kiely, Warnock is stepping up his search for replacements and confirms he has 'a few irons in fires' at the moment.

One of his targets is highly-rated Crewe defender Chris Lightfoot, with early talks already held with his agent.

Speculation that goalkeeping coach Kevin Blackwell is quitting the club looks to be premature.

Reports suggested he would be taking up a new role in South Africa, but he is already back in Britain and preparing for pre-season with the Shakers.

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