FORMER Shakers favourite Chris Lucketti has dismissed links between his current club Fleetwood Town and Bury midfielders David Worrall and Steven Schumacher.

But the Highbury outfit’s assistant manager admits being a big admirer of the club’s prized assets and has tipped Bury to bounce straight back to League One if they can keep hold of their stars.

“I’m not going to talk about players contracted to other clubs, but I would say that rumours linking us to them are wide of the mark,” said Lucketti, who won two promotions in six successful years at Gigg Lane.

“What I would say though is that Bury have a very talented squad.

“In many ways I think they under-performed last season because I definitely think they were good enough to have stayed in League One.

“I don’t know if the financial problems affected the players, but if they had played to their potential I don’t think they would have been relegated.”

While Lucketti is now a fixture at Fleetwood alongside manager Graham Alexander, the 41-year-old has never been shy of his Bury links.

He was appointed honorary president of Forever Bury, the supporters association, three years ago and will be at their beer festival this weekend.

The former Shakers defender is also looking forward to returning to Gigg Lane in the coming League Two season.

“It’s going to be a bit strange but I can’t wait to play them,” he said. “Fleetwood are a good, progressive side and we will be looking for a play-off place, but, for my money, Bury will go into the season as one of the favourites for promotion.

“Any side that comes down has got to start out as one of the favourites, but that’s not to say Bury will have an easy ride.

“There was a high standard of football in the league last season and there are some big clubs left in there, like Bradford.

"And then there’s Portsmouth. I remember not that long ago playing against them for Sheffield United in the Premier League. I guess that shows you what can happen.”