DAVID Flitcroft has confirmed there will be more players leaving the club this summer as he looks to address the balance of the squad.

Following the release of seven out-of-contract players, the Bury boss insists there will be more to follow.

The Shakers have been notably light at the back this campaign with experienced defender Peter Clarke and skipper Nathan Cameron the only two recognised centre-backs.

Reece Brown and midfielder Tom Soares were used to plug the gaps this season before Southend's Cian Bolger joined on loan.

Bury concentrated on attracting star attacking talent last summer, swooping for Leon Clarke and Tom Pope.

Flitcroft claims one of his main tasks in the coming months will be to shift the balance of the squad.

“Even though we have got players under contract, some of them will be moving on, that's for sure,” Flitcroft said. “That's something we are looking at, we are planning and we are trying to get right.

“We want to better what we have done this season, next season. That's the idea of progressing since we came into the club year in, year out.

“We have tried to change the personal, we have tried to restructure the back four at times and that's what I've got to look at next season, a back four that can make 40-plus games.

“I think at the start of the season we probably built the squad more from the front with Leon (Clarke) and Popey (Tom Pope), so that's something we are really working hard on in terms of recruitment and that's something that over the summer we will have to get right.”

Meanwhile, Bolger is unavailable to face his parent club for Sunday's final game of the season, meaning Brown may be handed his last appearance in a Bury shirt.

And despite knowing his contract will not be renewed, Flitcroft is confident the 24-year-old will continue to fight for his footballing future.

He said: “The lads who are getting released I've told them; obviously you are not getting a contract here but you are fighting for your football futures, you are fighting for your families so be really respectful to those people.

“It's important that they try and represent themselves really in the right way.”