Radcliffe Borough boss Paul McGuire has hit back at David Flitcroft after the Bury manager criticised the standard of the Stainton Park pitch in their opening pre-season match, claiming the surface was “perfectly fine”.

Big-spending Bury did not play new signings Ryan Lowe, Nicky Adams and Danny Mayor with Flitcroft believing there would have been “no winners” had he risked his first-team players in the curtain-raiser, which his side won 4-1.

“I have learned as a manager that if you start taking real professionals down to a night like that then there are not many winners,” said Flitcroft.

“If people think I am daft enough to take those sort of first-team players across to Radcliffe Borough to potentially get injured – well I’m not mad yet.

New centre-back Keil O’Brien was substituted for the League Two side on 30 minutes after picking up a knock, while Flitcroft claims the players left on the pitch were put at risk by the surface and some heavy challenges.

“It was a difficult night, a real difficult night,” he added.

“The pitch was just about okay. There was no chance for a club like Radcliffe to get water on it, so it was sticky.

But Boro boss McGuire dismissed the accusations claiming it was natural for managers of top sides to blame the quality of the surface.

“I thought the pitch was in a really good condition. It was in good shape and perfectly fine.

“You always expect higher level managers to blame the pitch and say it made it difficult for their players. I just think it is a natural thing for them to say.”

McGuire also felt Flitcroft’s comments on the quality of his squad were harsh. The Shakers boss had said: “In the past Kevin Glendon has had a more competitive team and a better quality of player.”

Although recognising his side are no world beaters, McGuire believes his Evo-Stik Division One North team has improved since the start of the year.

“I think our squad is steady. It hasn’t got any world beaters but we’ve got some steady players.

“If he had seen us eight months ago he would think our team is night and day better.

“You could turn it around and say you would expect a team like Bury to come here and steamroller us 8-0, to have all the play and look a different class, but the game was relatively level.

“It was only 1-0 at half time and obviously our players got tired.”

Michael McGinlay – son of former Bury striker John McGinlay – scored Boro’s consolation goal and McGuire has high hopes for the young triallist.

“Michael could be the kind of player we are missing. He could be a lethal finisher for us.

“He only had two chances and scored one goal and hit the post with the other. We are hoping it’s in the blood.”

Boro were beaten 2-0 at Winsford United on Tuesday night and travel to Vauxhall Motors on Saturday, kick off 3pm.