BURY captain Antony Kay yesterday sealed a deal to join League Two side Port Vale on a free transfer.

The defender was told he was surplus to requirements at Gigg Lane two weeks ago and was offered a mutual termination of his contract if he could find regular football elsewhere.

Kay will link up with former Shaker Tom Pope at Vale Park after the forward returned to his boyhood club in May.

Manager Lee Clark will now cast his eye over his squad, who return to pre-season training today, to pick a new captain.

“I will be looking very closely over pre-season to see who shows the right attributes to be the captain,” Clark said.

“The captain will have to be an extension of myself when the players are out there on the pitch.

“I have one or two ideas but we will see who commands themselves well and is well respected within the group.”

The Shakers are also on the verge of selling young midfielder Will Ferry to Southampton. The 16-year-old agreed personal terms with the Premier League side this week and the deal is expected to be concluded in the coming days.

It is understood a six-figure fee will be paid up front and any deal will also include add-ons and a sell-on clause.

Ferry is the latest Bury youth-team graduate to be sold on by the club, following in the footsteps of players such as defender Matty Foulds and goalkeeper Jack Ruddy, who have helped the club bring in more than £1 million in transfer fees over the past four years.

The two departures should free up funds for the arrival of up to four more players and it is understood a goalkeeper and winger are top of the priority list.

Meanwhile, Bury’s new kit will be delivered to the club early next week but a release date is yet to be confirmed.

The new home strip, made by Kappa, will remain white and blue, while the away kit is black.