Football Season Guide

Bury were an up and down team throughout the previous campaign, looking as a top half side at times, but also having large spells during which they were simply hopeless. Ultimately, they managed to achieve their goal of surviving in the division, and will enter the upcoming season with the same ambitions. None of the really important players left the club, while last season's loanees Trevor Carson and Lateef Elford-Aliyu were snapped up on permanent deal. In the likes of Adam Lockwood, who signs from Doncaster, the Shakers got themselves a central defender with Championship experience, who is likely to prove to be a real asset for them. The latest player to have joined is Mark Cullen, who signs on another loan from Hull after failing to prove himself during a three month loan deal last season, during which he was burdened with injuries. The Shakers' squad therefore seems to be a bit stronger than it was last season, but they were dealt a huge blow ten days before League One kick-off, as Richie Barker, the architect of their recent successes, left the club to join Bury. At the time of writing of this Season Guide(August 11th), the Shakers are yet to name a manager, with the club stating that they don't want to rush a decision. Barker's departure will certainly worry quite a lot of fans - Bury surely have one of the weakest squads in the division and the fact that the manager who was synonymous to their recent success has now also left cannot fill them with confidence. As we still don't know who the new manager will be, the Shakers are a big unknown going into this season, but there is little doubt that a repeat of their last season's finish would be seen as a success.