Relegation is just a word to all-action midfielder Darren Bullock who isn't about to let Bury FC's drop into Division Two get the better of him. The Shakers season only finished less than two weeks ago but already the man aptly nicknamed "Bulldog" is itching to get back to business. And, against conventional wisdom, he's convinced his new club's slide into the Nationwide League's Second Division need only be a short term blip. "Obviously I'm gutted about being relegated and especially for the lads who have been at the club all season, but we've got to bounce straight back and with Neil Warnock in charge there's no better man to lead us to it." he declared. "He's had a lot of criticism this season and that happens to every manager when a team is struggling, no matter who you are. But his record in the lower divisions speaks for itself and there's no reason why we can't do well next year."
To end of season run that saw the Shakers lose only three of their final fourteen matches coincided with Bullock's £200,000 transfer from Swindon Town but he modestly dismisses his influence. "That was a team effort and wasn't all down to me but it showed just what we could do in the first division. It's going to be a case of transferring that form to the start of the season and getting off to a flyer. Bullock was on the receiving end of the Shakers' best run of the season back in August when the Robins went down to a 3-0 defeat on Bank Holiday Monday. That triumph shot Bury to their highest league position of the season and he had no qualms about joining up with Warnock again following Lennie Johnrose's defection to Burnley.
In fact he is of the opinion that teaming up with his former boss again could be the answer to his disciplinary problems. While at Swindon he was suspended three times during the first half of the campaign and he blotted his copybook on his debut for the Shakers when he was dismissed inside the first ten minutes of the 2-0 defeat against Norwich City. "I didn't do myself justice that day and I let everyone down," he admitted. "It takes a bit of time to settle at a new club and I took a good bit of stick from the fans when I arrived, bit I don't think being sent off in the first game helped. But they have warmed to me since and still haven't seen me at my best. I really like the town, the area and the people and although I'm still based in Worcester at the moment, I'm looking for a move up here in the near future." A holiday to Cyprus is next on the cards for Bullock and his family then it's back to business of gearing up for the Second Division.
"Since the season ended I've been bored and can't wait to get back in training on July 1. I'm raring to go even now so someone had better look out when the season starts on August 7!" he added.