AFTER a summer of rumour and speculation, Bury manager Richie Barker has finally added to his squad, revealing three new signings today.

Here, the Shakers boss appraises his new players and explains what they will bring to the team.

Former Doncaster and Yeovil defender Adam Lockwood, aged 30, has signed on a two year deal: “Adam is somebody that I knew had become available around the beginning of May, end of April, and had been monitoring ever since.

“We had two routes we could go down in the centre of defence, either going for a younger player who we thought could progress or bringing in a player who had plenty of experience.

“Obviously, Adam has dropped down a level from the Championship and so has that experience to slot in straight away and compete with the other two lads (Mark Hughes and Efe Sodje).

“We wanted to get away from using the loan market in this area, which we had to do last season bringing in Ashley Eastham and then Nathan Clarke. We felt it was important to start the season better equipped to cope if anything happens to one of them.”

Marcus Marshall, aged 22, has signed a one year contract after scoring four goals in 51 appearances for Rotherham over the past two seasons, as well as one goal in 14 starts on loan at Macclesfield last year: “When we realised that Marcus was available on a free we moved fast to secure his signature.

“He is a player I know a lot about. He really suits the way we play, so can only go forward at this club after losing his way a little bit last year, with a couple of things not going quite right for him.

“He is the right age, with the right physical and technical abilities, which gives us plenty to work with.

“Part of his problem was that he was played out of position. I have brought him to the club as a winger. I do see it as a positive thing that he has played at right back as that shows he has been schooled in both aspects of the game – defensively as well as going forward – but I don’t see him as a defender.

“I don’t see him as a natural replacement for David Amoo, he is his own man, but he has a lot of the same qualities. He has a similar work rate, he’s athletic and he’s fairly direct.”

Lateef Elford-Alliyu, aged 20, returns to Gigg Lane, initially for 12 months, after scoring two key goals in a 13-game loan spell at the end of last season: “With Lateef we used the try before you buy method, and we were very happy with what he showed us last season.

“We obviously know all about what he has to offer and there were three or four things that we really liked.

“His attitude is excellent – he really wants to learn and progress. There were times last year when we couldn’t get him off the training ground so he ties in well with the kind of player we are trying to produce.

“He weighed in with a couple of important goals at the end of last season and is a similar player to Mike Grella, so he can play that role in a front two as well as out wide, which means we will go into the season with four wide players in competition for places.”

Don't miss Barker's thoughts on his new squad and the season ahead in the Bury Times tomorrow.