Sport

Old scores to be settled at Gigg Lane as ex-Bury manager comes head to head with new

By Amy Lofthouse

Ronnie Jepson has claimed that his players are full of self-belief ahead of Saturday’s clash with Torquay at Gigg Lane.

Despite not having a permanent manager, Bury have seen an upturn in fortunes after their first away win of the season last week at Wycombe.

Jepson has confirmed that he will remain in charge of the Shakers until at least January after Kevin Blackwell was sacked in October to give the club some stability.

“Whilst I’m here I’ll give it 110%, and so will the players,” he told the BBC.

“That is one thing I can guarantee the supporters and the chairman.

“If you fail or are successful you have to look at yourself in the mirror and think you’ve done it the way you’ve done it yourself.”

Bury will be looking to continue their impressive record against Torquay. In 22 meetings between the two, the Shakers have emerged on top 13 times and have only been on the losing side five times.

Torquay were victorious the last time the two met in 2011, and they will be hoping to capitalise on Bury’s poor record at home this season – two victories in seven games.

Torquay however are in an equally precarious position, hovering just above the relegation zone, whilst Bury are only two places above them.

There will be an extra frisson of tension as ex-Bury player Alan Knill returns to Gigg Lane as the manager of the opposition.

“Knilly is coming back, but that doesn’t affect me at all,” Jepson said.

“I don’t give a monkey’s who is coming back, all I’m bothered about is Bury and my players.

“You’ve got to do your own thing and you might take bits from people you’ve worked with in the past, but once you’re in the hot seat you’ve got to get results.”

Knill spent three years at Bury before leaving to manage Scunthorpe United in 2011. When the two teams met on Boxing Day 2011, Knill received so much abuse from the fans that the Shakers  were forced to issue an apology on their website.

“Some people think it’s clever, but it’s usually the faceless ones,” Knill told This is Devon.

“I was at Bury first as a player and then as a manager, and I look back on my time there with a lot of pride.”

Image courtesy of Bury Football Club via YouTube, with thanks.

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