BURY fans can expect to see another glut of new faces in January as new manager David Flitcroft bids to reshape the Shakers squad in his image.

Previous manager Kevin Blackwell recruited 25 players during a hectic summer, and while interim boss Ronnie Jepson brought in a handful of quality loan signings during his 10 matches in charge, Flitcroft has promised further additions in the next transfer window.

“Those players I’ve identified are hungry, they want to be part of what we are doing,” said the 39-year-old former Barnsley boss.

“There are a lot of players out there that are not playing a lot of first-team football and we will be working on that in January.”

Flitcroft was straight out on to the training pitch on Tuesday as he bid to prepare his players for the weekend’s relegation six-pointer at home to second-bottom Northampton Town.

Bury have just two more points than Saturday’s opponents. And while the cavalry may yet arrive next month, Flitcroft has challenged his current crop of players to eke out as many points as possible from the final games of 2013.

“With the squad we have got here, we’ve got to mould that in the next four games into something that is competitive and get some points on the board,” he said.

After Northampton, Bury face a long trip to Plymouth (Dec 21) before ending the year with two home matches against Scunthorpe (Boxing Day) and York (December 29).

The current Shakers players have been given a clear indication that they will be playing for their futures at the club in those matches.

And while Flitcroft, an ex-Shaker who played more than 100 matches for the club between 2004 and 2006, says he wants to create a home from home for his players, he admits some will have to fly the nest.

“When I first came here I was possibly going out of football,” he revealed. “I had a couple of bad moments and Graham Barrow sort of rescued me and brought me into the football club.

“I want to try and carry on that mindset because, what I found here was a club that respected what I did as a player.

“They gave me a home from home and that’s something now I want to create for my players.”

But he added: “Everything I do from this point on will be professional, not personal.

“If a certain player doesn’t fit what we are trying to do from a football view, then I’ll be honest with that player and I’ll let him know where he stands.”

Flitcroft is also busy in negotiations with possible candidates for his backroom staff.

Ben Futcher is staying on as a coach, but other positions still to be filled include goalkeeper and distribution coach and assistant manager, with Alan Knill's number two Chris Brass thought to be in the running for that post.