DAVID Flitcroft’s return to the JD Stadium as manager may have been met by almost universal rejoicing.

But for the players who do not fit into his cultured footballing philosophy, the former Shaker’s appointment could spell the end of their time at the club.

Andy Procter looked to be one man who fell into that category after the 30-year-old midfielder was stripped of the captaincy and dropped to the bench by Flitcroft for his first match in charge.

It was anticipated John Coleman’s former captain and enforcer at Accrington Stanley would be shipped out come January, but the no-nonsense footballer has knuckled down.

And after forcing his way back into the team, Procter is out to prove his new boss wrong.

“Dropping me was his (David Flitcroft’s) prerogative,” said Procter, who was signed by previous Bury boss Kevin Blackwell in the summer after an unsuccessful season at Preston.

“He’s come in as manager and named Craig Jones as captain and I’ve not got a problem with that.

“It’s something he’s paid to do. I’m just here to work hard and try to keep my place in the team.

“I think I have put in a few decent performances now whilst he has been here and hopefully I can maintain that.”

Procter had started every one of Bury’s matches this season before Flitcroft’s arrival.

But after coming off the bench for the final 13 minutes of the new boss’s first match in charge, the all-action midfielder has won back his place in the starting line-up.

The key to his future at the club will be how Flitcroft chooses to invest the chairman’s money in the January transfer window, but Procter is not about to give up his Shakers shirt without a fight.

“You are always on trial when a new manager comes in,” he said.

“It’s always difficult, but we are all in the fortunate position we have got contracts and we have got to prove ourselves to this new manager because he will have his own targets in mind.

“I played for one manager for nine years and I have just played for five in about 18 months so I just try to put it to the back of my mind and concentrate on my own performances.

“If you look too far ahead it can distract you, so I am just concentrating on myself and the team and getting us out of the position that we find ourselves in.”