BURY chairman Stewart Day will not be looking to cash in on prized assets such as Nathan Cameron, who was this week linked to a possible move to a string of Championship clubs.

That is the view of manager David Flitcroft after national reports suggested Reading and Wigan headed the queue for the services of the former Coventry centre-back.

Flitcroft described the 22-year-old defender as his “player of the season” so far after reinstating him into the first-team squad over the summer following a disappointing first campaign.

But he admitted the youngster’s head was probably turned by the transfer gossip, contributing to a below-par display in Tuesday night’s shock 5-0 defeat at Shrewsbury.

“Things go on behind the scenes — skulduggery at work — that you have no control of,” said Flitcroft.

“Agents want to make money, it’s a ruthless business, that’s what an agent does.

“Has the story affected Nathan Cameron? Possibly. I think a story like that probably would do.

“It’s not easy, but we have good people around Nathan. He’s been outstanding for us. He has been my player of the season up until now, so he will get the support he needs and hopefully after tonight he will start listening to good people in that dressing room.

“I have argued that I am his adviser and he has done well so far listening to me and Brassy (assistant manager Chris Brass) and Futch (first-team coach Ben Futcher). It is about who you choose as an adviser.

“But the chairman will want to hold on to these players and develop them as assets for the football club and that’s what we are trying to do.”

While Cameron is out of contract in the summer, and will be entitled to speak to other clubs from January, Flitcroft’s mind will be focused on who he can recruit this week, rather than who he can keep hold of.

The Bury boss lost strikers Clive Platt (hamstring) and Danny Nardiello (groin) in the run-up to Tuesday’s game, while the club’s third successive away loss highlighted the need to freshen up the squad in other areas as well ahead of Saturday’s trip to Southend.

After the Shrewsbury defeat, which saw the former League Two leaders fall out of the automatic promotion places, Flitcroft said: “That takes us down to 16 (outfield) players now with the two boys being out, so we will look at potential players who can come in and make us better.”

Ryan Lowe and Danny Rose are expected to be the only first-team strikers available for selection this weekend, with attacking midfielders James Poole and Joe Thompson called up from the reserves as cover in midweek.