BURY boss David Flitcroft says he went the extra mile to tempt Kean Bryan and Tom Walker to Gigg Lane on deadline day as he frantically searched for cover in all positions.

Manchester City's development squad captain Bryan and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Walker both signed season-long loans hours before the transfer window closed last Wednesday.

Their arrivals brought the number of summer signings up to 14, although two – Chris Kirkland and Nicky Clark – have since left the club.

With the emergency loan window scrapped this year, Flitcroft was desperate to sign players versatile enough to help out in other areas of the pitch when needed.

When the Shakers boss heard Bryan, aged 19, was available but on his way to sign for another side, he admitted going to extreme lengths to hijack the deal.

“The two deadline-day signings are good for utility,” Flitcroft said. “Kean is a left-footer, he can play midfield, left-sided centre half and left-back. I was chasing that one all day and we nearly did chase him down the hard shoulder to pick him up.

“We did genuinely send someone to pick him up and get him into this club because it's the versatility it gives us – it's vital.”

Meanwhile, Salford-born Walker, aged 20, was on his way to sign for League Two Leyton Orient before ditching his car in the capital in a bid to sign for the Shakers.

The deal was eventually completed just two hours before the deadline.

“With Tom, it was just unbelievable,” Flitcroft revealed. “We told Bolton we wanted him, the next minute we found out he was at Leyton Orient.

“He rang me direct, we had a good conversation and he told me he would leave his car down there and get the train up.

"It was brilliant how we got that one over the line.

"Credit to the staff for getting all the paperwork sorted in time.”

Both players made their debuts off the bench in the 4-1 win against Port Vale on Saturday giving the manager a selection headache ahead of the home clash with Shrewsbury this weekend.

Flitcroft is happy to have such a dilemma and says that although he now has strength in depth, he has also created a togetherness in the squad that means his players all want to win for each other.

“You can tell the lads want to do well for each other,” he said. “Any group that has ever achieved anything has wanted to do it for each

other.

“We try to have it all inclusive, we want all the players to feel part of it and if they don't want to be they leave the football club.

“There's no secret to the way I work.

"This group certainly want to play for Bury Football Club, some players didn't last season.”