BURY will be in the forefront of those Nationwide League clubs battling for a rule change on substitutes.

At present, sides in Divisions One, Two and Three are allowed only three players on the bench compared to the five permitted in the Premiership. Football League members voted against a change to five in the summer but Bury will continue to fight for change.

"Having five players on the bench would certainly make the manager's job easier," reckoned Shakers' boss Stan Ternent. "It would also enable teams like ourselves to involve more of the squad. I am certainly in favour of a change."

Chairman Terry Robinson confirmed that a summer vote had gone against the proposal.

"Some of the Division Two and Three clubs felt that having five subs would hand an advantage to the bigger clubs but my feeling is that if you are paying decent wages to a group of players they should be involved as much as possible. We voted for a change and will continue to do so."

On the subject of changes, Ternent refused to be drawn about possible team selection against Charlton tomorrow (August 23).

Skipper David Pugh is still sidelined with a bad knee but Peter Swan may have done enough in his brief appearances to force himself into the starting line up.

No decision has yet been made on whether to offer former Man United youngster Richard Irving a contract. He played in the reserves' 3-0 defeat at Scunthorpe on Wednesday night (August 27).

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