RICHIE Barker knows the Shakers are playing on a different financial playing field to some of the top teams in League One – but insists it is not something he worries about.

While the Bury boss is still casting his eye over trialists, his Huddersfield counterpart Lee Clark, with whom Barker will go head to head in the league opener on Saturday week, has splashed out £1million on Bolton Wanderers striker Danny Ward.

The Gigg Laners do have a wealth of talent in their ranks, though, with Damien Mozika the latest player subject to a transfer bid that has been firmly rejected.

And Barker prefers to look at the challenges he faces as a test of his management credentials.

“I don’t like to harp on about it, but we have to understand we are competing against teams who are light-years ahead of us in terms of finances and resources,” he said.

“Huddersfield are backed by a multi-millionaire owner and draw crowds of up to 15,000 every week. There has to be some realism in that respect but that doesn’t mean we won’t have a right good crack at it.

“It is a good test of my managerial abilities, knowing I have to find the next star, but that is what I thrive on. I knew when I got the job that I wouldn’t have hundreds of thousands of pounds to spend on transfer fees or wages.”

Barker, meanwhile, has revealed that Andy Bishop was not targeting specific individuals when venting his injury frustrations in the Bury Times last week.

“I have spoken to Andy and he was not talking about anyone in particular. It was not meant in the way it came out,” he said.

Bury, who were in action against Bolton Wanderers last night, round off their pre-season preparations with a trip to Prestatyn Town on Saturday.