Since Alan Knill took charge from Chris Casper there has been a significant improvement in the team's results and performances alike. It is three clean sheets in the last four for Bury and a season high 16 points collected in the busy March month. A fine month has seen the Shakers get out of the danger area of the division and into a more comfortable mid-table zone.
What are the aims for the rest of the season now Bury find themselves with not much to play for?
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Alan Knill wants to treat the remainder of this league season as a marker for the next campaign. It has been a superb run but no-one at the club is getting carried away. It has been a disappointing season but the chance to finish well could be a positive to take. There are five games to play and Bury are targeting 15 points. The way the lads are playing at the moment you wouldn't put it past them either. The Shakers face four of the division's struggling sides in the run-in as well as a local derby against Rochdale to look forward to. There is a lot to play for still.
What have you made of the managerial change at Bury? It has proved to be one of the most fruitful in the division.
It was very difficult under the previous management of Chris Casper and Keith Alexander as Director of Football. All I can say is that it reared it's head after their departure that it was not a happy camp. It just did not work for whatever reason. Alan Knill has come to the club and brought some solidity. He has not blown his own trumpet but his results have spoken volumes.
What can you tell us about Alan Knill as a football manager?
He is a football man through and through. He is not a show man but a real grafter. He is studios in his preparation and is very knowledgable about the game. He knows an awful lot about League Two football and it has certainly paid off. He has a very
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Glynn Hurst spoke about the club needing to do more than just survive next season, would you agree?
Glynn is a very honest bloke. He said it is no longer acceptable to just survive. It is not acceptable to lose games or be second best. The poor finances of the club have taken their toll but mid-table is no longer OK. We need to be striving for the top half of the table. I think it is a view echoed around the club.
Are you confident Bury can achieve more next season?
Well the Shakers started the season quite confidently this year of securing at least a top half finish. A couple of ex-Lincoln players were added to the squad which we hoped would bring in some play-off experience. It was all geared up to go for it. But there was a very poor spell just before Christmas which meant it never quite happened. No targets have been set for next term but patches of form show there is a lot of potential here. Knill has the chance to make some adjustments to the squad in the summer if he needs to. So we'll have to see.
Who is your danger man?
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It has to be Andy Bishop. He has got over 20 goals in all competitions in the last three seasons on the trot. Two of those have come at Bury, the other at York. He is the first Shaker to have such a record since the mid-1980's. I really believe he would score goals at a higher level too.
Who else should we look out for?
Efe Sodje and Ben Futcher have been excellent at the back. They are as good centre-backs as you will find in the division in my opinion. Wingers, Adams and Bennett, have been very impressive in the recent good run of form too.
What do you make of the sides last meeting?
Well it was a 3-1 win for Bury and it was a lot easier of a game than I imagined. Haslam scored
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I am surprised to see Notts down in trouble. They have a decent budget and when you look at Notts' players, I cannot understand why they are not in the top half or even higher.
What sort of encounter are you expecting?
Bury and Notts are two sides who like to play football so I have high hopes for this game. The surface may be suspect at Gigg Lane though. We have had a lot of rain up in Manchester this week and it may play a part. I hope Notts get out of trouble but not with a result here.
Score prediction?
2-1 Bury