Bury chairman Stewart Day believes the Shakers will be in the top three of the division next season ahead of Saturday’s final 2013/14 League Two game against Morecambe.
The Greater Manchester side head into the away clash full of confidence on the back of a good month in May which has seen them take 11 points from a possible 18.
The Shakers good run of form has seen them rocket up the table from 20th to 10th however with a play-off place out of the question the Chairman’s mind is focused on improving for the next campaign.
“We have a great platform to build on for next season,” Stewart Day told the Bury FC YouTube channel.
“The core of the squad that is going forward for next year is very exciting and the players we are talking about bringing into the club are great players and are going to get us out of this division.
“With the backroom staff that has been put in place there are going to be special times here. But the hard work starts now for next season and finishing in the top three is our target.”
The Shrimps currently sit nine places below their visitors in the league table on 53 points going into their final game of the season.
Jim Bentley’s men have had a poor run of form since the beginning of April, collecting just five points from a possible 15, however they had a comfortable 3-0 away victory against AFC Wimbledon last weekend.
Manager David Flitcroft is eager for his side to perform against Morecambe but the ex-Barnsley boss has hinted that he will be putting youth over experience in the starting line-up.
It is likely youth team defender Marcus Poscha will replace Chris Hussey at left-back who has returned to parent club Burton Albion and teenage midfielder Scott Burgess may make his first-team debut.
“There might be one or two younger players in the squad for Morecambe, but I won’t put anyone in there that doesn’t deserve a chance,” the former Rochdale assistant manager said.
“But both Burg (Burgess) and Marcus deserved their place on the bench because they have had a great last couple of weeks.
“Burg has taken our breath away in training and could certainly feature.
“Marcus I need to push and drive him. He’s sometimes in the comfort zone.”
Bury have taken the step of revealing their retained list of players for next season this week, with goal keeper Brian Jensen being the biggest name to leave.
Fellow stopper Trevor Carson along with defenders Richard Hinds and Robbie McIntyre, midfielders Tommy Miller and Lewis Young and forward Temitope Obadeyi are also on the way out.
The Shakers also confirmed that former Rochdale striker Ashley Grimes and ex-Shakers captain Andy Procter, who both signed on two-year deals last summer, had been placed on the transfer list.
And it was revealed Phil Picken, the final remaining member of the 2011 League Two promotion squad, had been forced to retire through injury.
Bury’s chairman has insisted that the shake-up is needed and that players from other teams are desperate to come to the club, who aim to be in the Championship within five years.
“We have had to change a lot around this season. I mean we’ve had to re-build the squad twice this year but we want to get the recruitment right now,” he said.
“But now instead of us having to ring players to bring them to the club they are ringing here because they want to be part of what is going on at the club.
“We want players that will enable us to dominate teams next season and we want to win games with style and passion.
“We had a call from Suarez and Messi but we had to say no you’ll get on the bench,” he joked.
Image courtesy of Bury Football Club via YouTube, with thanks.
