DAVID Flitcroft was mindful not to give away too many “trade secrets” in his post-match press conference after the final pre-season game against Preston.

But while the Bury boss was eager not to make life too easy for Doncaster boss Paul Dickov ahead of Saturday’s league opener, he has given a few pointers about tactical plans for the coming campaign.

Here are a few things to watch out for:

Flexible approach

Barring injuries, the spine of the team is unlikely to change much over the course of the season, but Flitcroft has made sure he has enough players in is squad who can switch positions at will.

So even if he starts with a regular 4-4-2, squad members like Tom Soares, Danny Mayor, Craig Jones, Hallam Hope and Danny Pugh are flexible enough to allow him to switch systems.

“We need to be flexible about what we are going to do,” said Flitcroft. “We have to make sure that we have the personnel to change it during games at key stages.

“When the game opens up we might look at doing something different so we have got two different plans (with the ball) and they have got two different strategies out of possession as well to solidify the game, manage the game out and control the game.

“Without giving away too many secrets we have got a group of players that are flexible.”

Set-piece threat

Since Nicky Adams’ departure to Northampton Town, Chris Hussey is now undoubtedly the main man when it comes to set-piece delivery and crosses from open play.

But whereas last season so many of the balls the full-back fizzed into the box went begging, Flitcroft is confident he has recruited players with the stature to make them count.

“I do think we look very, very dangerous at set pieces. Hussey’s delivery since I have had him has been outstanding,” he said.

“But we have now got Peter Clarke, Tom Pope and Leon Clarke to add to people like Tom Soares – real men going in there.

“At times we only had a couple of players opposition defenders really had to beware of last year.

“So we look a real powerful threat.”

Cut and thrust

Hallam Hope returned to Gigg Lane from Everton last November with high expectations following a successful loan spell the previous campaign.

But he did not look the same player.

Bury fans, and Hope himself, are still waiting for his next goal since putting three past Portsmouth in April, 2014.

Flitcroft, however, has taken him out of the firing line and believes he could prove to be an interesting asset when cutting in from the left flank.

He is quick, mobile and has previously shown an eye for goal, time will tell if the young Mancunian will make good on his early promise.

Double trouble

Flitcroft continually shuffled his pack of strikers last season, partly due to injuries but mainly because the goals never quite flowed freely.

But if pre-season is anything to go by, new signings Leon Clarke and Tom Pope will be given plenty of time to gel.

They have three goals between them in four appearances, so while Danny Rose, Ryan Lowe, Danny Nardiello and Hope are waiting in the wings, Clarke and Pope look set to start the season as the main men up front.

England (and Bury’s) number one

Charlton’s decision to keep hold of young goalkeeper Nick Pope left sizeable gloves to fill at Bury, but at six foot five and with a growing reputation, 19-year-old Brighton stopper Christian Walton looks capable of doing that.

Flitcroft certainly thinks so, and while starting the season with an untried and untested teenager in goal may be deemed risky, the young loanee will be given every chance to make a name for himself at Bury.

“He will certainly play for Brighton and we are a vehicle to maybe allow him to do that,” he said.

“I have worked with Jack Buttland and he comes with a similar air of confidence.

“His feet are fantastic, his distribution is good and he’s a big stopper.

“(With Christian) I think we are going to have a good season.”

Change is gonna come

Bury may have the makings of a settled side, but Flitcroft has warned fans he will not go into the new season with all the answers.

The Shakers boss looks set to freshen up his squad further and is likely to spend the first couple of months trying out players in different roles and systems before settling on a preferred formula.

“We have got small numbers because it was designed that way, but there are places up for grabs,” he said.

“I have been really happy with their application levels and attitude but we will keep looking for extra competition for those places.

“We have not got all the answers but we will try to search for them and find them.

“It’s a new group of players and we’ve got new combinations we are looking at so it’s exciting for me as a coach/manager to find out a bit more myself about what I want to see.”