South Africa captain Dean Furman has had to swallow some pride and return to the English League One as he searches for a new club.

Furman played for third-tier Bury as they came from behind to beat Championship Preston North End 3-2 in a friendly match on Saturday.

Furman left fellow League One side Doncaster Rovers at the end of last season‚ rejecting the offer of a new contract in the hope of winning a move to a Championship club.

But after an unsuccessful spell on trial at Blackburn Rovers and no further offers from that division‚ he has returned to League One to look for his next move.

There have also been persistent media rumours that the player was bound for Kaizer Chiefs‚ though Furman has been consistent in saying he wants to remain in Europe for now.

However‚ if there are no takers in the coming months — he is not bound by the transfer window as a free agent— the Premier Soccer League may become a more attractive proposition.

Times Media understands that Bury is one of a few options being looked at by Furman‚ but for now appears to be the best one.

Furman laid on one of the goals for Bury in their success‚ carrying on the good form he showed at Blackburn that just failed to win him a contract.

Bury were promoted to League One at the end of last season and are a club based in Greater Manchester.

They are coached by David Flitcroft‚ the younger brother of the former Blackburn and Manchester City midfielder Garry.

They have 130 years of history behind their name‚ but only have two FA Cup wins to show for it‚ and those came in 1900 and 1903.

They have a South African connection of sorts in their past after Durban-born ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar played for the side in 1998.