I’ve done a pre-season with Middlesbrough to keep myself fit because I know the manager and coaches there.  Then Kevin Blackwell phoned me and I was impressed with what he had to say.  I came in for a week’s training, it was all done and dusted and I’ve signed, I’m delighted with it.

The gaffer told me of his plans for the club this year, there are a lot of things going on off the field after the problems of last year.  There is an ambitious chairman here and he wants to improve the club as a whole and that includes on the pitch.

I know Trevor Carson from Sunderland and I know Tom Soares from Sheffield Wednesday but this is a whole new squad and it will be interesting to see how we go because there are some good players here.

The gaffer has put some pressure on me saying he wants me to get into double figures with goals.  I used to do that quite regularly, but I still believe I can get goals.  They don’t seem to come as freely as they used to but I still believe I can score goals, and hopefully this year I will do.

As you get older you don’t tend to get as forward as much as you used to, but I am as fit now as I have ever been, but you play with different players and sometimes they want to get into the box.  With me having a bit more experience, the manager may want me to sit and guard everything else, that’s how it’s been the last couple of years.

I had a brief managerial spell (and lost to Bury) at Swindon last year, it was tough because we were both playing (with Darren Ward) as well.  We had to do a lot of preparation for the game and then I was taking myself out of training to take the training.  It was enjoyable but quite hard.

I’ve settled quickly here, there are some good players here at Bury.  There are some good young lads and the gaffer has brought me in to give a little guidance here and there as well on the pitch.  Hopefully I can do that and push them on as well as pushing the club on as well.’