LEE Clark has reiterated there will be departures from Bury before the end of the transfer window in two weeks' time.

After Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Wigan, the Shakers manager said up to four players could be heading for the exit door.

And yesterday he confirmed a handful of senior players had been advised to search for regular football elsewhere.

The club are already trying to ship out former Wanderer Neil Danns, who is not part of Clark’s plans for the coming season, and fellow midfielder Andrew Tutte is also expected to be moved on after falling down the pecking order behind youngsters Tsun Dai and Callum Styles.

“The squad is starting to creep up in numbers,” said Clark. “I didn’t want that to happen.

“That means three or four players who might be surplus to requirements can, if they feel it’s right, go and seek first-team football somewhere else.

“Certainly, you don’t want senior players who are not playing on a regular basis. Players that are going to be surplus to requirements will have to realise that as well.

“If they don’t get that move or take the move that is on offer then they will find it a difficult few months ahead.

“We have got two exceptional young players in Tsun Dai and Callum Styles, so if we’re going to make any changes then it’s those lads that are going to be called upon before Andrew (Tutte).”

The EFL this week drafted a proposal to shut the summer transfer window before the season commences next year. Clubs will be asked for their opinions on the matter next month, but Clark claims it is common sense for the change to happen.

“Hopefully it will prevail because you will then start the season with that squad until the January window,” he said.

“There is too much nonsense. We have started the season and we have to deal with potential players ins and outs. It’s 24/7.

“For me, it’s the simplest thing to do. Make the deadline 48 hours before the season starts.”

Meanwhile, captain Stephen Dawson could be ruled out for up to five months after undergoing surgery on Monday on a knee injury he sustained in last week’s Carabao Cup defeat at home to Sunderland.

“It is a minimum of four months,” Clark said. “We are obviously disappointed. He was proving a tremendous leader for us, both on and off the field.”