BURY sealed two late deals on transfer deadline day, confirming the signing of Portsmouth striker Michael Smith in the final hour of the window after earlier capturing Wigan midfielder Josh Laurent on a season-long loan.

Manager Lee Clark had warned the club would also have to let a number of players go to make room for any new arrivals, and it was confirmed that ex-Wolves winger Zeli Ismail had joined Walsall on loan until January.

Deadline day was nowhere near as manic as Clark had predicted, however, after revealing on yesterday he was working on up to 12 deals, the majority of which were departures.

Midfielders such as Neil Danns and Andrew Tutte had been expected to head for the exit door, while Bury were unable to agree a loan deal for their key target, Newcastle goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

Still, Clark was keen to supplement his options up front and he will have been pleased to seal the signing of Smith.

The 25-year-old Wallsend-born front man was released by Pompey earlier in the day and will add to a strikeforce that already includes Jermaine Beckford, Harry Bunn and Chris Maguire.

Smith enjoyed his most prolific period at Swindon Town, where he scored 26 goals in 72 appearances.

He moved to Portsmouth from the Robins in June 2016 after a successful loan spell and found the net 10 times for the south coast club, with a career return of 63 goals in 223 appearances at 10 different clubs.

Laurent, aged 22, will offer cover in the centre of midfield. He started as a trainee at QPR and after moves to Brentford and Hartlepool joined the Latics in January for an undisclosed fee.

He has made three cup appearances for Wigan this campaign, scoring in their first-round Carabao Cup victory over Blackpool.

A statement from Bury described the 6ft 2ins Leytonstone-born player as a skilful central midfielder, although he also adds a physical dimension, which Clark had been looking for.

Ismail’s departure will diminish Bury’s attacking threat from the flanks, but the door is still open for a return, should he regain full fitness at Walsall.

The flying 23-year-old midfielder has been grounded for much of his time at the Energy Check Stadium due to injury.

He joined from Wolves last summer and made an instant impact, propelling David Flitcroft’s side into the promotion places by the end of September before the wheels fell off.

The Albanian national scored four goals in 19 appearances before limping off in a 2-2 draw against Wimbledon in the FA Cup on Bonfire Night and he never played again that season.

Ismail has figured in four of Bury’s first five games of this campaign, but only made one start.

As well as Bury's three deals on deadline day, they also completed two yesterday – summer signing Adam Thompson was a shock departure to Bradford on loan, while Romanian Under-21 international winger Mihai Dobre joined for the season from Bournemouth.

Clark also brought in two on loan last Friday, signing midfielder Rohan Ince from Brighton and promising young defender Jordan Williams from Huddersfield Town.