KEVIN Blackwell has dismissed rumours linking strikers Andy Bishop and Shaun Harrad with moves away from Bury.

Both forwards are contracted to the club until the end of next season, but Bishop has been linked with a return to Blue Square Premier League side Wrexham, where he played briefly on loan last autumn.

Harrad, who hit 10 goals on loan at League Two side Cheltenham Town this season, scored for former club Burton Albion in a testimonial in midweek.

But Bury boss Blackwell expects both Harrad and Bishop to return to Gigg Lane on June 20 for the start of pre-season training.

“There is no truth in the rumours that either player has been released,” he said.

“There hasn’t been any decisions made at the club about anything whatsoever while investment talks are ongoing.

“Bishop and Harrad are contracted here until next summer, so as far as I’m concerned that hasn’t changed.”

The Shakers manager did reveal that tentative approaches from Fleetwood to talk with both Steven Schumacher and David Worrall had been rebuffed, but admits Bury remain in limbo until the financial future of the club is secured.

Chairman Brian Fenton yesterday confirmed that “discussions are still on going with interested parties”, but, until those talks are concluded, Blackwell says he is unable to put any plans in place for next season.

“Everybody is asking what is going on – the players, coaches and staff – and there is absolutely nothing I can tell them,” he said.

“It is a difficult situation for everybody.

“As a manager, I can’t do anything.

“The players I am looking at and trying to talk to are starting to go elsewhere.

“I can’t even arrange any pre-season friendlies.

“All it means is that the work I would normally do over the summer is going to concertina into the final few weeks before the start of pre-season, but it is getting to the point where something will have to be resolved or we will run out of time.”

Various deadlines are looming at Gigg Lane.

The club needs to send out official letters to contracted players by next week before a retained list can be confirmed.

Bury are also due to repay the loan it took out with the PFA - to pay the players wages in February - within the next 10 days.

The next wage bill is also up in three weeks time, while a payment to the Inland Revenue, which Fenton confirmed at the fans forum had been deferred since March, is also looming.