MASTER marksman Mark Carter has been handed a free transfer by Bury.

The 36-year-old striker, Bury's top scorer for the past three season's and player-of-the-season in his first term at Gigg Lane, joins six other players who did not feature on the retained list.

Utility man Nicky Reid is also on his way as are defender Ian Brunskill, midfielder Winnie Steele, and forwards Barry Shuttleworth, Steve Jones and Peter Thompson.

The decision to release Carter was, though, manager Stan Ternent's most difficult.

"Spike (Carter) has done brilliantly for the club during his time here and letting someone of his quality go is always a tricky decision," admitted the manager.

"His goal scoring record is phenomenal and he is a great lad to have around the place. If we had been a bigger club, able to carry more players in a squad, we might have kept him but we are trying to bring in Tony Battersby and have David Johnson, Rob Matthews and Ronnie Jepson so we have to make some room. Spike will have no trouble finding another club to give him a two-year deal. We have tried to be fair by him in giving him a free transfer rather than having him sitting on the bench here and I have no doubt that he will be one of the best frees on the market. We'll miss his goals and someone will have to fill his shoes."

The Shakers had remarkable service from Carter who cost them just £6,000 from Barnet in 1993.

His eye for a chance brought him 20 goals in his first season, 14 in his second and 16 in 1995-96. Despite not being in the starting line up towards the end of last season's championship winning campaign, Carter bagged 15 goals and was again top of the charts.

Reid's release came as less of a surprise than Carter's though he, too, goes with the highest of recommendations from the manager.

"Nicky is a top class professional who is amazingly fit and will still do someone a very good job," reckoned Ternent.

Reid, the former Manchester City and Blackburn man, missed the trip to Spain to continue studying for a physiotherapist's qualification.

"We will miss him around the place because he was also a great influence in the dressing room," said the manager.

Ternent added that some of the decisions regarding the younger players were 'borderline' but explained that promotion to the higher standards of the First Division had been an important factor.

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