Sodje's Macc move hits a snag (From Bury Times)

Sodje's Macc move hits a snag

1:00pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in Bury FC By Craig Nelson

EFE Sodje’s planned move to Macclesfield on loan until the end of the season looks to have stalled.

Bury manager Kevin Blackwell revealed the deal was on the cards on Saturday and said he expected it to be completed by the start of this week.

But it now looks as if the Blue Square Bet Premier side are unsure as to where the 40-year-old former Moss Rose favourite would fit in the current set-up, which has left Sodje in limbo.

“There is a proposed move but nothing has really been done yet,” he said. “I know it is on the cards but I’m waiting for something to be arranged. I would like for it to go ahead as I enjoyed every moment of my time at Macclesfield very much.”

If the Shakers legend does move on, it is sure to be with a heavy heart after clocking up more than 200 appearances during his five years at the club.

He helped to revive Bury’s fortunes under Alan Knill, playing a big role in their rise from League Two relegation candidates to promotion in 2011.

It now looks, however, that he has fallen down the pecking order under Blackwell, who started with a new central defensive pairing of loan signings Ashley Eastham and Stephane Zubar in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury.

“I thought they looked great together and showed us, really, what we had been missing,” said the 54-year-old Shakers boss.

“We’ve certainly not kept many clean sheets this year and we’ve got to try and turn things around and that’s what I will try and do.”

After snapping up Zubar, Eastham and forward Nicky Ajose on loan, Blackwell this week turned his attention to triallists, running the rule over a number of them in Bury reserves’ 1-0 defeat at home to Shrewsbury this week.

Names on the team sheet included experienced former Barnsley midfielder Martin Devaney and 32-year-old defender Carl Regan.

But, as Blackwell explained, he will not be rushed into making any snap judgements.

“I can’t sign any loans as I’ve already got six at the club, so I’m only really looking at players who are out of contract, which means the transfer window is irrelevant to us,” he said.

“But it’s proving more difficult than you might imagine.

“I said in the past that it’s like panning for gold, but it’s more like trawling for a diamond.

“I just need someone who can give me 10 to 12 games, but it’s a lot easier said than done.

“With the squad as it is at the moment, I really need to find a right-back and a striker. “We need to release David Worrall on the right, so we have a bit more punch going forward, and we need someone who can add a few goals. “If I could put that right, then I feel the squad would have the right balance and I would be happy.”