Knill example to released players

11:04am Thursday 29th May 2008

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ALAN Knill cited his own experience of being dumped as a teenage footballer at Southampton as an example of how some of the Shakers' young released players can reignite their own careers.

The Shakers boss was told he was not good enough as a 19-year-old by then Saints boss Lawrie McMenemy before stepping back into the old fourth division with Halifax Town in 1984.

He went on to have a 17-year professional career, earning a one international cap with Wales, before moving into coaching.

And having taken the decision to release several young players from his youth and first team squads this summer, the former defender has said some will be more than capable of making him eat his words somewhere down the line.

"The good footballers have to have that character to bounce back," said the Bury manager.

"The sad fact is that every day you are being judged and you have to face up to that.

"The ones that are strong mentally have careers. Everyone looks at football as if it is a right laugh, but it is competitive and you have to be tough, otherwise someone will take your place.

"It is tough to do and tough to take, but you can come back from it."

Knill added the League Two side would keep in touch with all the young players released over the last few months to help them find another club.

"Once they have left us, that is not it," he said.

"They stay in our system for a long time and I believe we have an obligation to keep an eye on what they do.

"We owe them that much because they have been excellent while they have been at Bury."