BLUES Academy coach Paul Hilton is among the contenders to take over as League Two Bury's new manager.Hilton played for the Shakers between 1978 and 1983, and was player of the season in 1981 after being plucked from non-league.

By Derek Davis

BLUES Academy coach Paul Hilton is among the contenders to take over as League Two Bury's new manager.

Hilton played for the Shakers between 1978 and 1983, and was player of the season in 1981 after being plucked from non-league. He is keen to return to the north-west in a managerial capacity.

A source close to Bury FC told the EADT: “Paul is well known up here and has a good coaching CV with Ipswich and West Ham so has as good a chance as any.

“The club will shortly announce the criteria they are looking for in a manager and if they are to go away from going down the route of the old managerial merry-go-round and go for a young up-and-coming coach, then he would be ideal.”

Another man to fit that criteria is Peter Farrell, who is with Bolton Wanderers' Academy and also used to play at Gigg Lane.

The Bury vacancy arose after Graham Barrow was sacked on Monday, along with assistant Ray Matthias.

Youth team coach Chris Caspar is in temporary charge but has already been told he will not be given the job on a permanent basis.

West Ham signed Hilton after he played centre-half for Bury against them in the League Cup, although it was a match that the Hammers won 10-0. Hilton, who will be 46 next month, made more than 60 appearances, scoring seven goals for West Ham, before joining their coaching staff.

The former centre-half, who also has a HGV driving licence, now coaches at Playford Road where he is responsible for the Under-14 side.