BURY'S star striker Jon Newby may not be on his way out of Gigg Lane after all.

The club's top scorer for the past two campaigns is currently out of contract and would have to accept a pay cut to remain a part of the Shakers set-up next season.

He sparked frenzied speculation over his future earlier this month by announcing he was not willing to take a lesser wage at this stage of his career.

But he claims his words were taken out of context and that his Bury career may not be over.

"There is a little bit of interest from other clubs, but no concrete offers as yet," he said.

"It's very much looking as though I will be here next season, and that certainly would not be a problem to me, despite what has been written.

"Nobody wants to take a pay cut, but if you have to, then you have to. The way things are going in football at the moment, you know that in the second and third division, you will have to take a pay cut."

Manager Andy Preece is keen to keep hold of his influential front man and has more cash at his disposal after slashing the wage bill by releasing five players and placing two more on the transfer list.

That could prove enough to bridge the deficit and keep Newby, who claims no club has made him a concrete offer, despite rumours of a move to Stoke.

"Honestly, I don't know anything about it," he said.

"There have been a couple of clubs that I have been linked to, but I have always said that if something could be sorted out here, then I am more than willing to listen."