BURY manager David Flitcroft has confirmed he is looking to bring in up to three more players during the transfer window.

The Shakers have already made eight signings this summer, but with 14 players having left Gigg Lane the Bury boss is in search of more reinforcements.

Changes to the loan market means there will be no emergency loan window throughout the season so all business must be concluded before the deadline on August 31.

Ahead of the Shakers hosting Charlton in the season opener on Saturday, Flitcroft is delighted with how his squad is shaping up, but he believes a few more bodies will help to better last season's 14th place.

“The plan is to build on last term's finish,” Flitcroft said. “We are in a stronger position, as a squad I still think we are a couple missing.

“I think you always look at the dynamics and the change to the loan market. You are going for those couple of loan signings but they are currently with the first-team squads training. It's this waiting game and I think everybody is playing it.

“Will players come up for loan? We are all not sure. I think as managers there has been an impact to it and we are all not sure.

“We are going to need a couple more permanent bodies in the loan market and then we will see what happens.

“We have been very efficient in what we have done and we have certainly moved the squad on from last season.”

Flitcroft is searching for a way to replace the goals of star striker Leon Clarke after his move to Sheffield United, and may have to look at options in other areas of the field to chip in.

He said: “We are not going to find a direct replacement for Leon Clarke because they don't exist or else Sheffield United would have found that player.

“What we have got to do is come up with something different which makes sure the team is scoring goals.

“Nobody is going to sell a striker with a week to go, they never were. With hindsight, if we had done the business earlier and if Sheffield United had done their business up front then there probably were replacements at that time.

“We were led to believe that Leon would be staying with us this season and it's very difficult to find that striker now. League One strikers are at a premium.”

Meanwhile, Bury have appointed former Rochdale defender Dave Bayliss as chief scout to replace Neil Howarth, who has joined Portsmouth.

Flitcroft said of the switch: “We have now recruited a chief scout. I lost Neil three or four weeks ago so we have recruited Dave Bayliss and he knows football.

“He has been a manager, been a coach, done his badges so he's the right fit. He's young, he's dynamic and he wants to get out to football matches so I'm pleased with that and he's a good addition to what we're trying to do.”