Bury FC: Wily Warnock lands Laurent

The Bury chief knew he had to use all his managerial nous to beat off a host of clubs across the continent for the former Montpelier star who signed for the Gigg Lane club on a free transfer this week.

Greek giants Panathinaikos of Athens were just one of a number of top names eager to capture the talented D'Jaffo who bagged 11 goals in 22 matches for Scottish First Division side Ayr United last season. And when Alex Miller, the boss of last Friday's friendly opponents Aberdeen started casting envious glances at the talented 27-year-old there was only one thing Warnock could do - send him packing.

"He's loved his time on trial here over the past few weeks and done superbly in training but I didn't want to play him in any of our pre-season matches because he'd have done too well!" explained the Bury boss.

"I didn't want other clubs alerted to his availability so I kept him under wraps." Crowd-favourite D'Jaffo had a couple of big money offers from continental teams but has always harboured ambitions of playing in the English League.

He bagged 11 goals in 22 matches for the Honest Men last season but when his contract ran out at the end of the campaign decided to move on and try his luck south of the border.

He arrived at Ayr's Somerset Park last October from Paris club Red Star for whom he scored 13 goals in 23 matches.

But the strapping six-footer made his name in the French First Division with Montpelier scoring 38 times in 112 matches between 1990 and 1996 picking up French League Cup winners and runners-up medals and finishing on the losing side in a French Cup final.

"He's big, strong, quick and good in the air and I'm sure the fans will like him.

"At 27 his career is at the crossroads and it's up to him to show what he can do in the English game," added Warnock.

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