BURY boss Chris Casper has been there, done it and worn the T-shirt when it comes to scrapping near the bottom of the Football League.

The Shakers finished 19th in their previous League Two campaign, and are currently 17th and seven points off the dropzone this season.

For Burnley-born Casper, at 31 years of age the youngest manager in the top four tiers of English football, the task is two-fold: preserving the club's rich Football League history while helping balance the books.

Bury, one of the more financially troubled clubs of recent years, were placed into administration in March 2002 and almost went into extinction facing crippling debts.

Although the situation has since eased, the Shakers have been inclined to sell their best players to help matters.

Simon Whaley, Chris Porter and England U21 international striker David Nugent were all sold in the space of 18 months and, last month, midfielder Dwayne Mattis left for Barnsley in a £50,000 deal.

"It's vital that Bury stay up with the tradition and history of the club," admits Casper.

"People have done so much hard work over the last few years and its important we remember that hard work and preserve our Football League status.

"Financially, it's always difficult and has always been the case."

Casper can sympathise with John Coleman after the loss of creative midfield players Ian Craney and Gary Roberts earlier in the season.

He added: "The sales of Roberts and Craney has obviously affected them enormously."