NICK Daws collected the Bury FC Player of the Season award this week, describing it as the 'ultimate honour.'

The ever-present midfielder, who has played in the last 124 consecutive league matches, admitted he was totally surprised when his name was read out.

Bury's longest serving player said: "It is the ultimate honour to be judged player of the year by the fans.

"And it is extra special to win it in the First Division. This year I have been fortunate to play against some of the top players in the country. It has been a fantastic season.

"I am more surprised to have won the award this year than any other because I have played half the season at right back."

Daws ended Chris Lucketti's three-year reign as fans' number one, but says his skipper could not have been too far behind him.

"I didn't expect to be in the running. The likes of Chris, Dean Kiely, Lennie Johnrose and Paul Butler have all been outstanding this year and I thought it would have been one of them," he added.

"At the end of the day, we are not a one man team. You can't win games without the rest of the lads. We all work for each other and have deserved the results we have got this year."

As it turned out, Butler was the man in second spot - just reward for one of the country's finest centre backs who scored that memorable goal in Bury's 1-0 win at Manchester City earlier this year.

Butler also collected the inaugural Disabled Fans' Player of the Year award.

Goal of the season went to Tony Rigby for his sensational free kick at Birmingham City in February with Johnrose (Norwich, away) in second place and man of the moment Daws (Coca-Cola Cup, Sunderland, away) in third.

He added: "I am hoping this is the start of a number of celebrations for me. On Sunday it is the big game at QPR when we hope to secure our place in Division One and I have got a baby on the way in two weeks time!"

Daws says the whole team is focused on Sunday's crunch clash.

"We want to get a result and not rely on other sides slipping up," he said.

"All we are concerned about is getting that point." The 28-year-old has just signed a new three year contract at Gigg Lane which will take him to nine years at the club.

And he couldn't be happier to be staying on.

"I am as ambitious as anybody, but if ambition means uprooting your family and moving to London and losing all your friends I would rather progress with Bury," he said.

"I see it as a forward move for me. I believe Bury will stay in this division and go from strength to strength."

Wednesday's awards night at Gigg Lane was preceded by a fans' forum in which 250 season ticket holders got the chance to direct questions at the likes of manager Stan Ternent, who received a standing ovation, chairman Terry Robinson and commercial manager Nev Neville.

During the session:

Robinson answered criticism of the playing surface at Gigg Lane by revealing the club was spending £15,000 on putting it right in the summer and that the work had already started.

Ternent assured fans he would be sitting down with left back Bryan Small to discuss his future when his contract expires at the end of the season and quashed rumours linking Bury with Andy Payton at Burnley.

Commercial boss Neville admitted to being disappointed at not filling the stadium to capacity on more occasions this year, but said: "The fixtures were not kind to us and we played a number of big sides in midweek which did not help us.

"The manager and chairman are doing their bit. If we finish fourth bottom then we have improved by four places on last year, we are building a new stand which is also improvement. The supporters will come eventually."

Robinson and Ternent said they would be looking to strengthen their squad during the close season, but admitted finances were tight.

"I wouldn't say my hands are tied," said Ternent, "but I can't go out and sign Jaap Stam!

"There are around 14 teams in Division One with ambitions to be in the Premier League - and they can afford to do it.

"We are in a different ball game, so I am pitching elsewhere because I can't get into auctions."

Captain Lucketti got one of the biggest cheers of the night when asked for his highlight of the season. His choice of the Manchester City victory was clearly a popular one with the Bury faithful.

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