BURY FC's board of directors see the appointment of Graham Barrow and Kelham O'Hanlon as a positive move, as the Shakers aim to go forward to a brighter future.

The manager and his assistant put pen to paper on rolling contracts this week after stabilising the Gigg Lane side during a difficult mid-season.

When both chairman Albert Doweck and first team boss Andy Preece left the club within days of each other in December, the uncertainty in the corridors at Gigg Lane had an alarming effect on results.

Eight consecutive defeats sent the Shakers into freefall, a situation that was remedied by promoting Barrow to manager from his position as first team coach under Preece.

The former Chester, Wigan and Rochdale boss's first job was to bring in O'Hanlon, who has impressive coaching credentials from working with Everton manager David Moyes at Preston and also the Republic of Ireland squad.

With a number of astute loan signings, particularly central defender Dave Challinor from Stockport, the playing side showed a dramatic improvement and a run of 12 matches with one defeat pulled the club up to mid-table respectability.

On the back of that kind of influence the board were united in making the Barrow-O'Hanlon combination permanent, and they can now make plans for the playing squad ahead of next season.

But it's not just what's been happening on the pitch on a Saturday afternoon that's impressed the powers-that-be.

There is a vision, in the boardroom, of a greater development and integration of the youth set-up at Gigg and it's an initiative that the manager and his assistant have shown a very positive attitude to.

What has happened at Crewe Alexandra - a club that have never enjoyed a fan base any bigger than Bury's over the years - has been held up as an example of how a small team with limited resources can mix it with others that have far more financial clout.

Their conveyor belt of young talent has earned them huge amounts of money in recent seasons and they still 'lord it' in Division One to this day.

With that in mind, when injuries and suspensions have upset plans in recent months, Barrow has shown courage to blood promising young players like Tom Kennedy and Jon Cartledge rather than make numerous tactical changes to the team.

And once over the accepted 50 point safety line he intends to give other young players an opportunity to show what they can do.

"We are determined to integrate the youth side of the club and a lot of work has gone into setting up that side this year," explained director Roger Barlow.

"There are three main advantages in going down that road: the fans like to see young players coming through; we need to develop our own talent to strengthen the squad; and any players who move onto bigger clubs could be a vital source of income to us.

"It isn't something that will happen overnight but people are working hard behind the scenes to make it happen."

Make no mistake, the manager and his staff have still got a difficult job on their hands, and it's a very strict budget they will have to work to in the coming months.

The Creditors Voluntary Arrangment (CVA) agreement the club entered into, after coming out of administration two years ago, will be hanging around for three or four years to come.

It means a trading profit of something in the region of £100,000 has to be raised just so the club can survive.

Against that kind of intense pressure the board are constantly looking at making cost reductions and seeking ways of earning more income.

And it demonstrates just how important a lucrative cup run can be to club's in Bury's position - something there's been a distinct lack of in recent seasons.

In the short term the early purchase of season tickets (see back page) would also be a massive help as the club struggle over the summer months without gate receipts.

Despite the obvious financial pressures, it's not all doom and gloom behind the scenes, with the board confident the new appointments will benefit the club immensely.