BURY yesterday swooped to sign striker James Vaughan from Birmingham City on a two-year deal just as reserve goalkeeper Jack Ruddy was preparing to leave for Wolves.

It is understood Vaughan, who joined on a free transfer, was set for a medical at Championship side Burton but the Shakers hijacked the deal at the 11th hour.

The 28-year-old forward said: “I had a good chat with the chairman and manager for a couple of hours, listened to what they had to say and wanted to be part of the project here.”

Manager David Flitcroft has also hinted another signing could link up with his squad before they face League One opponents Walsall on Saturday.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Ruddy, who has made one senior appearance for the Shakers, is expected to complete his move to Wolves this week.

The goalkeeper becomes the latest academy product to move up the leagues, following defender Matty Foulds’ move to Everton last season.

Ruddy has spent the past week on trial with the Championship side, but Bury are standing firm on a price, understood to be a five-figure sum, with potential add ons to increase it further.

“We protected ourselves with Jack,” Flitcroft said. “We gave him a professional contract so it’s outside the compensation and we’re trying to work on that deal with Wolves.

“Jack has been fantastic while he’s been here but we’ve got to do the best deal for the football club and we’ve certainly been working hard on that – it’s very close, it’s almost over the line.”

Flitcroft also admitted he has narrowly missed out on loaning a Championship player.

He believes the decision to stop emergency loans outside the transfer window, which came into force this year, has made other managers more cautious.

“There’s a certain player that I went for and his manager has said he is not going to play in the Championship for the next six months,” Flitcroft said. “Would he make 20 games for us? Yes.

“He’s an English player, he’s not going to get those games at his club but the manager is thinking if he does release him then there’s no way of a recall so he’s almost stuck.”