IT may have been all change at Gigg Lane this summer, but it’s nothing that experienced midfielder Peter Sweeney has not seen before.

The former Scotland Under-21 international has witnessed a series of managers come and go at his previous clubs, from his early career at Millwall through to a brief spell at Leeds where the 27-year-old worked under Dennis Wise, Gary McAllister and Simon Grayson.

Sweeney is now going into his third season at Bury under his third different boss, with Alan Knill and Richie Barker heading for the exit door since he arrived in June 2010.

“For some people it is the first time a manager’s gone,” he said. “For me it’s not – I’ve seen managers come and go. “As disappointing as it was, you know that Barks has left and it happens. That’s football. You’ve got to get on. We’re paid to play for Bury Football Club and we can’t show any emotion.”

Sweeney has started the first two matches of Shirtliff’s tenure as caretaker boss in a dual role, covering the left side of midfield while drifting into the centre to support captain Steven Schumacher and Mark Carrington.

It’s a new position for the cultured midfielder but one he’s happy to play to help out the team.

“Shirty’s got the job at the minute, he’s our manager and the lads are more than happy with him,” said Sweeney. “We know him and we know what he wants and he’s been fantastic so far.

“Both Peter and Richie are similar. They’ve both got the same ideas, I think, and Shirty’s not changed too much. “He’s drummed in what he wants from us as much as he can in the short time he has been in charge. All the lads are behind Shirty and Futch.”