STEWART Day hopes Bury’s busy start to the summer will capture the imagination of the town after Port Vale striker Tom Pope became the club’s third signing since securing promotion to League One.

The 29-year-old was unveiled on Tuesday after agreeing terms on a three-year deal and will officially join on July 1 when his current contract at League One rivals Vale runs out.

The self-confessed Port Vale fan said he made the “massively difficult” decision to leave his hometown club after being offered a new deal on vastly-reduced terms.

It is understood Bury beat off competition from six other clubs, including Doncaster Rovers, to secure the signing of the prolific striker, who scored 69 goals in 192 appearances for the Valiants.

After last week securing the services of Wolves forward Leon Clarke, also on a free transfer, the chairman said he believed it was important to add goals to the team – to aid their chances of staying up next season but also to attract a new generation of fans through the turnstiles.

“Tom Pope scored 61 goals in his last three seasons – he is a 20-goal a season man,” said Day.

“He had an injury last season but still scored 13 goals in League One – so he is a proven League One finisher.

“We needed to add that quality to the squad – we needed to score more goals – and we have brought in two powerful strikers.

“Both Tom and Leon Clarke are experienced at this level – they have been here and done it – and I think, hopefully, they are the sort of signings that will excite fans.”

Day is convinced that, with a successful team on the pitch, the club can enjoy a significant boost in attendances next season.

Bury had an average gate of 3,774 in League Two last season, with a total attendance of 86,800 for its 23 league games, up 14,607 from the previous campaign.

A host of matches to come in League One against sides from the North West, Lancashire and Yorkshire should ensure a marked increase in away attendances, at least, but the Shakers chairman sees the potential for growth in home support as well.

“We had an average away attendance last season of just 320 so promotion to League One should make a big difference,” said Day.

“But we saw last year in the match against Southend, which was free entry, that we managed to attract 8,500 people into the JD Stadium. So the potential is there.

“The population of the borough (180,000) is twice the size of Burnley (87,000) and we have shown if we can tap into that and build a team the town can be proud of, then the people of Bury want to come down to watch good football.”