Bury boss Richie Barker has insisted he expects Ryan Lowe to stay at the club despite speculation linking him with a move to Stockport County.
Barker confirmed the Shakers have named their price for Lowe after knocking back a second offer from the ambitious non-league club, who are on the verge of being taken over by a Liverpool-based consortium.
But after holding talks with the 32-year-old, Barker is confident last year’s League Two Player of the Year will be plying his trade at Gigg Lane next season.
He said: "We’ve given them our feedback about the second offer and said ‘this is what we would want’ for him.
"But he knows what I think of him and I think I know what he thinks about me, there is a mutual respect there.
"From the information he gives to me he wants to play for me and he wants to play for the club with the mates that he’s made here."
It is believed the second bid was around the £150,000 mark.
Amidst the mounting speculation, Barker has been busy preparing his troops for tonight’s (Friday) visit of Premier League side Everton.
David Moyes is expected to bring a strong squad across the M62 and Barker believes the test will be a perfect step up for his players having faced non-league Radcliffe Borough and Championship side Burnley in the last week.
He said: "It’s always better to be able to build things up gradually during pre-season and the Everton game is going to be a great test for us.
"As well as building up in terms of the strength of the opposition we’ve had players playing 45 minutes against Radcliffe, then 70 against Burnley and hopefully a few will be able to complete 90 minutes against Everton.
"We’ve had a good start but it’s all about being ready for the first game of the season on August 6 and that’s where we’re keeping our focus."
With first-teamers Andy Bishop, Peter Sweeney and Mike Jones still on the comeback trail from long-term injury, Barker has been forced to rely on youngsters such as Max Harrop and Andrai Jones during pre-season, but the 36-year-old manager has urged his Shakers starlets to take the chance to force themselves into the first-team picture. He said: "You’ve got to remember that with some of the players we’re missing, against Burnley we finished the match with nine teenagers on the pitch.
"Three of those were young boys and it’s good for their development, but for players like Max and Andrai who were there or thereabouts at the end of last season this is a great opportunity for them to stake their claim for a place ahead of the new season."
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So the second bid was £150,000!?
I hope that means we're out of the bidding then.
33 in September, over £150k is a big gamble.
Yes Dave it's all water under the bridge mate,a lot of hot air over nowt.
Hardly news, County stated on their website weeks ago that they were no longer interested. TBH I have to agree with you Dave. He's a good player, although Grant was trying to convince us (himself) otherwise when he thought Lowe was on his way to Stockport. Trouble is that this is probably the last year he will have any real sell on value, because of his age as you say. I think maybe Bury blew it by being too greedy, I can't see them getting another six figure offer for him, never mind 150,000. A faint possibility in the transfer window if he lights up division one the first half of the season and somebody with money is looking for goals to clinch promotion or stave off relegation. Possible but not likely is it.