BURY have swooped to sign young Manchester United striker Mark Whiteman.

The 18-year-old Jersey-born player was released by the Reds at the end of last season and hopefully will prove as big a hit as David Johnson did when he made the short trip up the A56 from Old Trafford.

Whiteman will go straight into the reserve team set-up and could feature in both the second team friendlies as well as first team ones.

The youngster, who with the rest of the first team squad arrives back for training on Thursday, won't be the only new boy on parade.

First team coach

Young Alex Tarsus, a Turkish Under-18 international, will also be getting acquainted with his teammates after his transfer from Doncaster Rovers.

Until cancer victim Billy Ayre returns to the club Andy Feeley will step up to first team coach.

Andy, who led the reserves to the Pontins Division Two championship last season, has just returned from a Class A Coach assessment course.

His position as Youth Coach will be temporarily filled by Ron Futcher who volunteered his services after being released by the Bradford City coaching staff.

The new youth coach got back in action yesterday when the club's youngsters returned from the summer break.