BURY'S record signing Chris Swailes is due to sign for First Division new boys Rotherham United on a free transfer today writes Steve Bott

Swailes has accepted a three-year deal first offered to him by the Yorkshire outfit during talks on Friday, as the BEN exclusively revealed..

Swailes - voted Players' Player of the Year at Gigg Lane for his outstanding performances at the heart of Bury's defence this season - has also been courted by Walsall.

However, he is likely to opt for Rotherham on the basis that it is nearer his roots in the North East.

Shakers chairman Terry Robinson will be upset to lose the courageous defender, especially as Bury had offered him what is described as "a very attractive package" to remain at Gigg Lane.

Swailes, though, has used the Bosman ruling to his advantage and when his three-year Shakers contract ran out at the end of the season he and his agent began looking for a club which could offer him and his family the best financial deal.

A source at Millmoor confirmed: "We spoke to Chris Swailes on Friday and offered him a three-year contract.

"The dicussions went well and we are waiting to hear, via our agent, whther he has accepted our offer.

"The club is confident of signing him and we anticipate the deal will be done and dusted early today."

Rotherham wanted Swailes because they are keen to sign players with First Division experience. To that end, Swailes fits the bills perfectly.

Not only has he played for the Shakers at that level but he was also a regular for his previous club Ipswich Town.

Add to that the fact that the central defender recently scooped the Players Player of the Year award at Gigg after one of his best ever seasons and it is easy to see why Rotherham are sniffing.

The central defender is Bury's record signing after joining as part of the £1 million deal which saw striker David Johnson join Ipswich in November 1997.

This season was one of his best for the Shakers. Swailes missed just four matches and used his experience to help young players, like Chris Armstrong and Nicky Hill, slot into the back four.