Bury Town draft

Bury Town boss Richard Wilkins is confident his side will be more than a match for anyone come the start of the newRyman League Premier Division season.

The Blues have seen plenty of players depart Ram Meadow in the last month – including Adam Tann, Craig Parker, Sam Nunn, Sam Reed, Mark Coulson and Evan Key – for various reasons.

It hasn’t left Wilkins with a strong hand at this moment in time. But you won’t find him panicking.

“When the season kicks off our starting eleven will be strong, I can assure you of that,” he said.

“Don’t get me wrong, we are not likely to have a squad of twenty-two players, we can’t afford that. But we will have sixteen or so and lots of quality.

“I’ve been at Bury for thirteen years and it doesn’t get easier. I thought a few players who have moved on might have stayed with the club, but that’s football.

“Players move on and cite joining ‘ambitious clubs’ as the reason for doing so. That always makes me laugh because it’s as though they are saying they joined ‘unambitious clubs’ the year previous!

“Money is key but not the most important ingredient and I’m more than confident in how we will get on this season. I expect us to be challenging at the top as we usually are.

“Yes, I would like to have a few more players signed up and in the bag by now, but am I panicking? No.”

While players have left Ram Meadow, the Blues were happy to get the signing of midfield/striker Ryan Semple from Corby Town this week.

Semple started his career with Peterborough United and made such an impression that he was invited to join Manchester United on a two-week trial.

A broken leg meant he spent a while out on loan to various clubs including Boston United.

“Ryan scored fifteen times in a team that were relegated from Conference North last season, so that tells you something about him,” Wilkins added.