Alan Knill has left Bury to become the new manager of Scunthorpe United.
Assistant manager Chris Brass and goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler have also made the move to the Iron, who are five points adrift of safety in the Championship.
Bury, who sit in fourth place in League Two, must now quickly turn their attention to their promotion bid after almost a week of speculation over Knill's future. It is believed former Crystal Palace and Coventry City boss Iain Dowie is being lined up to replace Knill at Gigg Lane until the end of the season.
A Bury FC spokesman confirmed: "It is with deep regret that we announce Alan Knill is no longer manager of Bury Football Club.
"The club have reluctantly agreed a compensation package with Scunthorpe United for Alan to take over the manager’s role with immediate effect.
"Alan took over at Gigg Lane on 05 February 2008 following the dismissal of Chris Casper and the late Keith Alexander. During his 1,150 days in charge of the Shakers, Alan has turned the club's fortunes a complete 180 degrees and we place on record our appreciation of this.
"The play-off semi finals were to be the peak for Alan during his spell at Gigg Lane, the following season saw Bury slip away from another promotion challenge to finish 9th. Alan leaves Gigg Lane with the club in the play off zone, having spent the last month in the automatic promotion positions.
"During his 165 games as manager of Bury, 50 were lost, 44 drawn and 71 won.
"Assistant manager Chris Brass and goalie coach Neil Cutler have also left the club.
"The club would like to thank Alan, Chris and Neil for their service to the club.
"The club will announce who will be taking over as caretaker manager in due course.
"We now ask all Shakers fans to get behind the team for this weekend's vital game with Oxford United, and ultimately for the remainder of this season."
What do you think? Have your say.
Alan Knill leaves Bury to join Scunthorpe United
March 31, 2011
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There were rumours going around for a while. I've always had a soft spot for Bury as I worked there, at the hospital, and went to a few matches during the 1990's. To consider Dowie though isn't a good idea. He's never inspired confidence where ever he's managed.
A poor choice I would have thought, Unlikely to carry on with Bury's attractive football policy or their youth policy nor will he have much detailed knowledge of lower league players. Only possibility is that he can persuade a few higher league has beens to come to Bury on loan between now and the end of the season and with their experience get them up to league 1.
In a perfect world, Bury will still get promoted and Scunthorpe will be relegated, so the Shakers' fans will be able to show their undying gratitude to the man who gave up the ghost on his team and the fans at the most crucial time of the season.
I think with the compensation the club owes the supporters a decent appointment but not Paul Simpson's thanks he turned us down a few years back when he was out of work.No knee jerk appointments please.Why are smug clubs like Scunthorpe United so condescending about our club little old Bury (there there much improved under Knilly's stewardship.
Can understand anybody being lured away but to Scunthorpe? Maybe if they were in a better league position a couple of divisions higher up the league, but they are a totally abysmal team and quite likely will be in the same division as Bury next season. Why would you prefer being relegated to getting promotion? Will he have more money to work with at Scunthorpe? It won't be from gate receipts!
hMMMM... 3-0 win and 6-0 loss....good move?