SHAKERS' manager Graham Barrow finally got his man on Wednesday when Paul Scott put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him at Gigg Lane to the end of the season.

The 24-year-old former Huddersfield Town defender has made a big impression since arriving at the club a few weeks ago, initially on trial.

He was surprisingly released by the Terriers at the end of last season and had been on trial at Scarborough, before former teammate Dwayne Mattis told him Bury were looking for defensive cover due to an injury to Danny Swailes and Colin Woodthorpe's suspension.

A chance phone call to the Bury boss resulted in him being invited for a trial, Barrow liked what he saw and has been keen to make a deal permanent since.

The only sticking point was the one-in one-out situation the Shakers find themselves in regarding the number of first team squad players.

But the mutually agreed decision to let midfielder Lee Duxbury go last week cleared the way for the Wakefield-born player to put down his roots at Gigg.

"I'm delighted to sign for the club," he said.

"Now I just want to settle down and stay in the first team for the rest of the season.

"Signing gives me that little bit of stability and I can now relax and get on with things.

"When I arrived in pre-season I was never told I wasn't wanted it was just the case that the Gaffer couldn't sign any more players.

"Then I played a few reserve games and he told me he'd like to sort something out which, thankfully he has done.

"I'm really enjoying my football here, it's a good club to be at and I've been made really welcome.

"My aim is to help them do well and hopefully look at getting another deal.

"And the way the results have been going for us so far it looks as though we could be in for a good season."

Although Scott has formed a solid back three with skipper Dave Challinor and Danny Swailes, Barrow believes that with his ability and tenacity, he can also do a job further up the field.

"I'm really glad we've been able to do something with Paul, he's done great for us," said Barrow.

"I like his game, he's a consistent player and I can see him doing a good job in midfield as he likes a tackle.

"He's been first class since he arrived on trial and obviously his friendship with Dwayne (Mattis) has helped get him here, sometimes you hit upon players like this.

"It's a little bit of luck that has gone our way, he's been at other clubs but he didn't want to move away from the area and has fallen into our lap."