BURY'S tough man midfielder Darren Bullock has cleared up his on-off transfer to First Division Sheffield United ... well, at least, sort of.

He will be a Shaker for the coming season - unless the Sheffield club come up with an offer.

Bullock has vowed to knuckle down and attempt to win back his Bury place.

But, if Blades manager Neil Warnock was to come in with a bid, then Bullock would probably be happy to move.

He spent a successful loan period at Bramall Lane at the end of last season but suffered a double hernia which sidelined him for the last few matches.

Since then he has been unsure where his future lies but he now seems to have accepted the situation.

"I've still got a year left at Bury and all my efforts are focused on playing for Bury in the coming season," explained the midfielder.

"Obviously if something materialises with Sheffield United then we'd have to have a look at it but I'm not looking at that. I'm a Bury player at the moment.

"Neil Warnock said that if it was the right time and the money was right then I would go. Bury would want a fee for me but what that fee is I don't know. That is for the chairman and Sheffield United's chairman to sort out.

"Neil's last words to me when I picked up my injury was just to get it sorted, get myself fit and then we'll see next season.

Experienced

"I know for a fact that Neil has been away on holiday and they've gone on tour for a week so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

"But I am a Bury player and I'll be giving my all for Bury. Nobody can ever knock me for not doing that. I give my all wherever I go and I'm looking forward to the start of the season, wherever I might be."

Bury boss Andy Preece is pleased to hear that.

With experienced first teamers like club captain Nick Daws and defender Chris Swailes gone, players like Bullock become more important. Recognising that, Preece said: "Bully fit and with his head right is an asset to the team. He needs to work hard on his fitness though.

"But when he's fit and everything's going right he's an asset, which he showed at the start of the lst season. We'll be working hard on getting him right."

BURY have laughed off suggestions that out-of favour Birmingham City midfielder Graham Hyde is about to join as player-coach.

Hyde, a 31-year-old midfielder who used to play for Sheffield Wednesday, is available on a free transfer after a bust up with Blues boss Trevor Francis.

However, despite the fact that Shakers chairman Terry Robinson would probably love to have the player at his club, he dismissed the reports as fabricated, saying it was impossible for Bury in their current financial position to sign a well-paid player from a First Division side.

Shakers travel to Acrrington Stanley tonight for a pre-season friendly, kick off 7.45pm.