BURY boss Andy Preece says he will not be hanging up his boots for another couple of years writes Chris Hall

The 35-year-old striker is preparing to embark on his fifth season at Gigg Lane and the 16th of his professional career, while also juggling the demands of football management at a club with no cash and a limited squad.

But the former Stockport and Crystal Palace ace has resisted the temptation to halve his workload despite admitting to moments of doubt.

"The simple fact is that, with the squad as small as it is, we need as many bodies as possible," he said.

"In pre-season I'm as fit as anyone else, so age doesn't come into it. A lot of players carry on after they reach 35. Retirement age always used to be around 32 or 33 but players are looking after themselves a lot better now and can last longer.

"There are times when you are struggling with injuries and you should be concentrating on getting fit but, as a manager, you have too many other jobs to do. There have been times like that when I've thought 'If this is how it's going to be, then it's not worth carrying on.'

"But if I'm injury free then it's not a big problem. I also have Graham Barrow working alongside me and he takes a lot of the burden off me."

Preece is first to admit that his form over the past couple of years has slumped, with only three goals from nearly 50 appearances a poor ratio for any forward.

But, after a strong start to pre-season, he reckons his injury-plagued days are behind him in time to spearhead one of the most impressive front lines in Division Three.

"Last year I had a lot of niggling injuries. It's not something I've had problems with throughout my career but I've been very unlucky in the last two years," he said.

"Now I'm just hoping to stay injury-free and I don't want to be missing training.

"At the moment, everything's going well. I feel fit enough. My running times are well up with everybody else and if I continue like that I will have a big part to play.

"I'm looking forward to this season. The last couple of years have been stop-start but I'm used to getting into double figures and that's what I'm aiming for again this year.

"We are pretty well covered up front, though, with the likes of Jon Newby, George Clegg, Ian Lawson, David Nugent, Gareth Seddon and myself.

"I wouldn't say there too many teams in the Third Division with as strong a forward line as that."