IT would be fair to say that the Bury supporters were not exactly doing a clog dance on their town's cobbled streets when Graham Barrow succeeded Andy Preece as manager at Gigg Lane in mid-December.

Just the fact that Barrow had at one stage managed Rochdale was like waving a red flag at a bull as far as the Shakers fans were concerned.

But Barrow has been round the block more than once at this level of the Football League. He knows his onions.

Better still, he knows how to win a relegation battle which is precisely what he's done at Gigg Lane over the second half of the season.

And for that, the Shakers faithful have even forgiven him for occupying the manager's chair at Spotland.

With no financial resources at his disposal, Barrow's skill at mixing the old with the new eventually ensured Third Division survival after an alarming nose-dive down the table at the start of the year and his bold decision to blood talented youngsters like Simon Whaley and Tom Kennedy suggests that better days are just around the corner for Bury.

BARROW'S RATING: 7

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Full season review in the Sunday Pink.