CRAIG Parker has signed for Bury Town until the end of the season after attracting interest from TEN clubs.

The midfielder, whose contract with Chelmsford City was cancelled by mutual consent a week ago, spent three months on loan with the Ryman League Premier Division side earlier this season.

But after returning to Melbourne Stadium and finding his opportunities of Blue Square Bet South football limited, Clarets manager Glenn Pennyfather agreed to release him from his contract.

Parker’s return comes as no real surprise, despite the interest from elsewhere, bearing in mind that he joined Bury after leaving Cambridge United as a youngster.

The capture of his signature – he signed yesterday lunchtime – coupled with his former Chelmsford City team-mate Adam Tann agreeing to a third month on loan at Ram Meadow, comes as a welcome double boost for Bury Town.

The Blues, who travel to Wingate & Finchley tomorrow, have lost four games in a row and currently occupy tenth place in the table.

Parker admitted he was surprised his availability had attracted so much interest, including enquiries from one Blue Square Bet South and five Ryman Premier sides.

The 26-year-old said: “It is obviously nice, but was unexpected because I am out of contract in the middle of the season.

“It actually gave me a headache at one point. I met with quite a lot of the clubs and heard what they had to say before I made my decision.

“I was on loan at Bury Town earlier in the season and I know both Wilks (manager Richard Wilkins) and Ben (assistant manager Ben Chenery) well and I also know the players.

“I also live in Bury St Edmunds and I have my final ACCA (accountancy) exams coming up in May and leaving Chelmsford gave me an opportunity to play my football closer to home.

“I have never been out of contract in mid-season, so I was only wanting to sign until the end of the season and then consider my options in the summer.

“I have been speaking to Adam Tann this week because his loan was up for renewal and his signing for another month was also a factor in my decision.”

Parker is hoping that he can help reignite Bury’s push for a promotion play-off spot between now and the end of the season.

“They have not had the best of times recently, but I have been looking at the table and until it is mathematically impossible we have got to believe we can still get in the play-offs. We just need to start winning, which breeds confidence, and get some momentum.”

Parker scored 42 goals for Needham Market as they lost in the Ryman League Division One North play-off semi-finals in the 2010/11 season, before securing his move to Chelmsford.

He bagged six in 17 appearances for Bury while on loan this season and said: “I like to get amongst the goals and hopefully I can do so and help Bury to climb back up the table.”