BURY have opened negotiations to terminate the contracts of first-team players Kelvin Etuhu, Ishmael Miller, Paul Rachubka and Chris Brown.

None of the four players have featured in any of new manager Lee Clark’s squads since he took charge of the club three weeks ago.

Goalkeeper Rachubka has made only one appearance all season, while Miller has been used three times as a substitute.

Etuhu, who has played 90 games for the Shakers over a three-year period, has struggled for fitness this campaign, making just 13 starts and is now set to be paid up as Clark looks to trim his 34-man squad.

“Ishmael (Miller), Kelvin (Etuhu) and Paul Rachubka, the club are in discussions in early termination of their contracts,” Clark told the Bury Times.

“They have not been finalised, they are still in discussion and when that has been completed we can have more information.

“I don’t want to degrade senior players by sending them to the youth team. There's nothing sinister in it. I have respect for those three guys, it’s just a decision that was made.

“I have said all along that the squad is huge and that’s because we have had so many injuries.”

Chairman Stewart Day has also confirmed Brown is on the list of players he is currently looking to let go.

The 32-year-old former Sunderland, Preston and Doncaster striker joined Bury last summer after being released by Blackburn but is yet to play a game for the club.