DAVID Flitcroft’s appointment may have come out of the blue, but I have to say that I think it is a fantastic move for the club and I wish him well.

I said to friends when David left Barnsley that it would be good to see him at the JD Stadium and I am glad that the board felt the same way.

He was player of the season at Rochdale when I worked there as assistant to Paul Simpson and I always thought that, if he brought all of the qualities he had as a player into management then he would be a big success.

David was a great character to have in the dressing room – he was a lot of fun – and on the pitch he always gave 100 per cent, was always enthusiastic and full of energy.

He was also a great student of the game.

And having done all his coaching badges, worked an apprenticeship under Keith Hill and spent a year in management at a higher level, it seems like the perfect time for him to prove himself at a club like Bury.

David played the majority of his career at League Two level and has good coaching experience at this level.

So he knows the football Bury will need to play to get results and he has good contacts with the right footballers to help the Shakers move up the table.

That is his main priority now, in the short term.

I know David shares the chairman’s long term vision for Bury and will want to have an input at every level of the club to get each and every side – from the youth up to the first team – playing the style of football he wants them to play. But that is in the long term. David’s job right now is to achieve results.

That means fans may not notice an instant change in the style of football – that will only come after a pre-season.

What supporters will notice, however, is a change in the attitude of the players.

I know from personal experience at Bury, when Derek Fazackerley took temporary charge of the club following Martin Dobson’s departure, that there was a big change in mindset when Sam Ellis arrived as the full-time manager.

Now the players know who they have to impress and, if they don’t, they will be on their way out of the club. Full stop. You don’t realise what an impact that has as a player until it happens to you.

I think Ronnie made a good point that results were starting to go the right way under him, but things still had a way to go.

Under David, I believe fans will see that progression, and I wish him every success.