BURY right-back Phil Picken reckons the Shakers squad can go further than League One if they stick together.

Picken, who joined most of his team-mates in signing a contract extension until 2014 this week, voiced his delight at being part of manager’s Richie Barker’s plans in the aftermath of Bury’s 1-1 home draw against Chesterfield on Tuesday night.

“I’m obviously delighted to have signed my contract,” he said. “I feel like I’m playing well and the lads are great. I’m just thankful to the manager. It’s nice to be in his plans.

“I can see the direction the club is going in. I’m an ambitious player – I want to play at the highest possible level – and I know the gaffer wants to do the same, so hopefully we can go there together.”

And 26-year-old Picken believes the core of Barker’s squad, including captain Steven Schumacher, fellow midfielder Peter Sweeney, left-back Joe Skarz and other members of the squad are at the perfect age to take the club forward.

“We’re all a good age,” he said. “Sweeney, and Schuey, and Skarzy.

“If you can keep that kind of quality together for at least two and a half years you never know what we might do.

“It’s good to see. If you want to do things we need to stick with the players that have got us here.”