LEE Clark says he is glad Bury supporters have no nightmare midweek trips to make this season after the fixture list proved favourable for the Shakers.

The Bury boss was also pleased his side were handed a home start to the season, with Walsall the visitors.

“I’m glad there are no long trips in midweek,” Clark said. “I remember being at Huddersfield and we had to go to Southampton on Boxing Day, that was a nightmare for our supporters.

“For me and my players the fixtures are not a problem, we get looked after very well, it’s about the supporters.

“I am quite relaxed. We have to play everyone twice but I always like to be at home first.

"It gives us the best chance to get off to a good start.

“The next league match is Wigan and that will be a good local derby as they have just come down from the Championship.

“I always get excited when the fixtures come out because it means the start of the season is not too far away.”

With Clark’s ambitious plans this season, the final run-in could have a lot riding on it – which ends away to Wimbledon, where the former Newcastle midfielder wants to settle a score after last year's 5-1 humiliation which ultimately cost previous manager David Flitcroft his job.

He added: “Looking at the end of the season, Portsmouth as the final home game, they should bring big numbers up here.

“And then we go to Wimbledon, where we will have to eradicate a couple of nightmare results from last year, which were just before my time.

“Without being boastful, we should have a lot to play for in those final games as I expect us to be up there challenging for the top six places."