GRAHAM Barrow already has his eye on next season as the Shakers enter the final seven matches of this campaign.

Barrow, and assistant boss Kelham O'Hanlon, signed new full-time 'rolling' contracts on Wednesday and both are wasting no time in planning ahead for next term.

Of the sixteen full time professionals on the club's books, no fewer than eight could be free agents in the summer.

With that in mind, the management team will be looking long and hard at their out-of-contract players, while casting an eye on those they'd like to bring to Gigg Lane.

"Obviously, we'll still be focusing on the job in hand but now we can look beyond the summer," said Barrow.

"We had one eye on next year anyway but after being given the green light we're really working towards next season.

"I don't think it's a bad thing for the club that eight players will be out of contract, either.

"We have been holding meetings and talking to the players quite a bit over the last few months.

"Now we've finally been appointed it might hit home to one or two that they need to pull their socks up!"

One player who Barrow would definitely be keen to bring to the club in the summer is on-loan central defender Dave Challinor.

He returns to Stockport County after next Friday's Torquay United game, but appears surplus to requirements at Edgeley Park despite having another 12 months of his contract to run.

Everton's 19-year-old midfielder Steven Schumacher is another target and Barrow narrowly missed out bringing him to Gigg on transfer deadline day.

The Shakers travel over the Pennines to face league leaders Doncaster Rovers tomorrow, a side the Bury boss has a great deal of respect for.

He believes clubs such as Rovers, who make rapid progress after coming up from the Nationwide Conference, are an example to other Third Division teams on small budgets.

"When Doncaster came to our place I thought they were one of the best teams we've played this year," he said.

"There was an enthusiasm about them that comes from the fact that their players have been given a second chance in the league.

"Dave Penney (Doncaster's manager) has pulled them around in a big way and must be in line for the manager of the year in our division.

"I know from my time with Chester in the Conference that his predecessor threw a lot of money at the team but they didn't seem to be going anywhere then.

"It shows you just what can be done with hard work, application and being shrewd with your signings."

The big injury doubt for tomorrow's game involves Gareth Seddon who has picked up a groin problem this week.

He had to pull out of training on Wednesday and is only rated 50-50 to get the all-clear.

Barrow knows well enough that the job he's taken on isn't going to be easy, but neverthless he's grateful at being given the chance to take the club forward.

"You can bet if I hadn't taken the job there would have been a queue a mile long to do it," he added.

"There are only 92 Football League clubs and everyone wants the opportunity to manage at this level.

"People are working hard to foster good relationships in the club and there is now a better atmosphere which benefits everybody.

"There are restrictions that go with the job, obviously, but in football there is always hope.

"When you look at clubs like Doncaster, Yeovil and even Lincoln City it shows what can be done..

"There is a lot of hard work ahead but it can be very rewarding too.

"Football is changing quickly at the moment with a lot of players available in the summer.

"And there is no reason why we can't be in the frame for some of the better ones.

"We may need a bit of luck, but we'll be working hard to strengthen where we feel we need to."