BURY are expected to name Neil Warnock as their new manager early next week.

The former Oldham Athletic chief was at Gigg Lane for more talks with chairman Terry Robinson and major shareholder Hugh Eaves on Wednesday (June 10) and is taking the weekend to think over the club's offer.

Robinson, who has targeted Warnock since the day Stan Ternent defected to Burnley, said: "We have had further meetings with our chosen man and they went very well.

"He is trying to sort out some family business before making a decision. He is bringing his wife up to Bury to show her what the area is like.

"We will speak with him again early next week about his decision."

But he added: "Time is not of the essence. We want to make sure we get the right person."

Warnock says the Gigg Lane hot-seat is right up his street.

"Bury seems a lovely challenge that is just made for me. Hopefully everything can be sorted out in the next couple of days," he said.

Happenings at Bramall Lane would appear to remain the only stumbling block for the completion of a deal, with Warnock still on Sheffield United's shortlist for the manager's job.

They are expected to name their new man this weekend.

Should Bury lose Warnock, they still have an abundance of interested candidates queuing up to be interviewed including Jan Molby, Bruce Rioch, Steve Bruce, Lawrie Sanchez, Neville Southall and Frank Stapleton.

"We are still chatting to other people on our shortlist. No interviews have taken place with them, but we are keeping in touch with them," Robinson said.

Former boss Ternent and assistant Sam Ellis were back at Gigg Lane on Thursday (June 11) to say their final goodbyes.

The pair, who are now in their second week in charge at Burnley, brought along farewell gifts for office staff.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.