AFTER a week when off the the field disagreements overshadowed Bury's fine start to the season, all is calm again at Gigg Lane.

A history-making draw with Reading, when they were easily the better side, and a commanding victory at Crewe should have been grabbing the headlines but instead much had been made over a row that essentially concerned bonus payments and had little to do with facilities or nappies.

After setting a 112-year club record of 26 home league matches without defeat last Saturday the players refused to meet sponsors or talk to the press.

Their stance had softened by the time they'd recorded a Coca-Cola Cup win at Gresty Road on Tuesday (see page 100) and a meeting with boss Stan Ternent yesterday morning confirmed that all was back to normal.

"A mountain had been made out of a molehill," declared the Shakers' chief. "Everything got exaggerated out of all proportion."

"The players wanted to make a point and they have done. Now all we want to do is get on with playing football."

The players, who didn't let their dispute detract from their on the field performances, are back in action tomorrow at Stockport when they hope to take advantage of their neighbour's summer upheaval.

Dave Jones' departure to manage Southampton, along with players Paul Jones and Lee Todd, left new boss Gary Megson to grapple with some team rebuilding and that may have had something to do with their two successive defeats against Bradford (2-1) and Mansfield (4-2).

"You get strange results at this stage of the season because new players are bedding in and they are learning new systems. I suppose the fact that Andy Gray has been our only fresh face in the starting line up has been a help to us," reckoned Ternent.

"We certainly will not be underestimating our task tomorrow. Stockport did fantastically well to get promoted last season and had a great cup run."

Skipper David Pugh is Ternent's only doubt. He missed the trip to Crewe with a sore knee and if he doesn't recover in time, the manager is ready to pick the same eleven that started that tie.

Whether he begins Andy Gray at the back or in midfield will remain a secret until just before kick-off but Ternent will be hoping Gordon Armstrong continues his goal a game comeback after recovering from a minor back operation.

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