The January transfer window is full of enticing possibilities for those managers afforded a big enough cheque-book, but for the less fortunate it can be a time of fear and frustration. Alan Knill, the Bury manager, believes that the system works against smaller clubs, blaming it for the predicament with Andy Bishop, their star striker, and would welcome the closure of the window once and for all.

“The window dictates and unsettles people, firstly in August and then again in January,” Knill said. “It’s ridiculous and I can’t see the sense in it at all. We don’t buy anybody – all our players are loans during the season or frees in the summer.”

Bishop, 26, the Coca-Cola League Two club’s leading scorer this season with 11 goals, is considering an improved deal at Gigg Lane – his contract expires at the end of the season – but is reluctant to make a commitment with the window open. “Andy has worked hard to put himself in a strong position and I don’t blame him for doing what he is,” Knill said. “He wants to play higher and wants to wait a little longer to see what’s out there. But the longer he waits, the more difficult it would be for us to replace him if we lose him. We don’t want to pressure him into a decision, but that’s how it is in this January window and it’s pathetic.”

Michael Jones’s 37th-minute goal settled a match that Knill felt should not have been given the go-ahead by Nigel Miller, the referee, because of the icy pitch.

It was Ian Hendon’s first game in charge of Barnet after the club moved Paul Fairclough into an executive role and the caretaker manager said: “The result was disappointing, but the players had a real go and there were plenty of positives.”

Bury (4-4-2): M Tyler – P Scott, B Futcher, R Cresswell, D Buchanan – E Bennett, S Dawson, B Barry-Murphy, M Jones – A Morrell, A Bishop. Substitutes not used: C Belford, S Haslam, R Baker, D Racchi, D Rouse.

Barnet (4-4-2): R Kadoch – A Ogogo (sub: N Bishop, 58min), I Yakubu, G Breen – K Gillet, A Adomah, M Porter, M Leary, T Black – P Furlong (sub: A Birchall, 75), J O’Flynn. Substitutes not used: P Carpenter, C Akurang, N Deverdics.

Referee: N Miller. Attendance: 2,402.