Bury boss Andy Preece must be one of the most frustrated managers around.

A prolonged takeover of the Shakers has left Preece unable to plan for next season.

Player-manager Preece cannot approach new players, has little hold on players out of contract and he does not know whether he will be at Gigg Lane himself next year.

The Shakers' long-running financial problems have virtually brought the club to a standstill.

Preece told the club's website: "It's frustrating and at the minute I can't look much further than the end of this season.

"We have brought a lot of young players through and if we hang on to them they have got bright futures in the side."

Bury have never recovered from relegation from the First Division at the end of the 1998-99 campaign. Manager Neil Warnock subsequently moved on to Sheffield United and Preece, a 34-year-old former Crystal Palace, Blackpool and Stockport striker, picked up the reigns on a full time basis last May.

Players still on First Division wages has been the crux of the problem since relegation and Bury have finished lower/mid-table for the last two seasons.

The club's majority shareholder, Hugh Eaves, is in financial trouble and creditors are currently selling off his 90 per cent shareholding in the club.

A consortium, led by a Turkish Cypriot businessman said to be worth £250million, is rumoured to be interested in taking over the club but fans remain sceptical.

The local paper, the Bury Times, is running a Save Our Shakers campaign and the immediate future does not look bright.

Goalscoring was the problem last season with midfielder Nick Daws top-ping the charts with just six goals.

There is a strong basis to the squad but how many of the star players remain come next season is an issue.

Chris Swailes, a burly defender, is rumoured to be a £100,000 target for Rotherham.

Jon Newby is a highly-rated former Liverpool reserve, Adrian Littlejohn has an excellent scoring record in the lower divisions and goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has his admirers .

Colin Cramb scored five goals while on loan from Crewe last season and Bury are keen to sign him on a permanent basis but the uncertainty of the club has put a block on that for now.

On the debit side, Paul Barnes has left to join Conference side Doncaster, turning down League new-boys Rushden and Diamonds in the process.

One interesting name among the Bury ranks is Indian international captain Baichung Bhutia.

The striker caused media interest when he became the first Indian to play professionally in England. He arrived with a useful reputation and his signing also appealed to the area's large Asian community.

What happens next season with Bhutia, his team-mates or Preece, for that matter, remains unclear.

New owners could signal a fresh injection of much-needed cash but they may not want Preece at the helm.