ORIENT 2, SHAKERS 0: IF this was supposed to be the dawn of a new era for the Shakers, then the next few months promise to be awfully bleak.

Statistics can be manipulated many ways but those involving Bury tell a simple truth -- the club is in big trouble.

And unless there is firm leadership and decisiveness from the top immediately, the Shakers current slump will continue all the way into the Nationwide Conference.

The Shakers have now lost five games on the spin, scoring just one goal in that period.

The Board, already without a chairman. in its wisdom dispensed with the services of its manager and joint top scorer, Andy Preece.

And unless the directors find money to spend on strengthening the squad for caretaker boss Graham Barrow -- or whoever succeeds Andy Preece -- the decline will continue.

Confidence among the players, already dented before Preece left, suffered a further down turn with his shock departure.

You only had to be at the Matchroom Stadium for evidence of that fact -- it was a display as depressing as an East Enders script.

The best result Bury were going to obtain from this match was a draw and it soon became apparent that scenario was not going to happen.

If the Shakers had a chairman, Barrow would be banging on his door today demanding to know what was happening. The door is still there, but Albert Doweck is in Jamaica and the ship apparently rudderless.

"We are in a results business and we have to get some results quickly," says Barrow. "We want to be looking upwards not downwards towards the relegation area."

Barrow is caretakerboss for the immediate future and has been given no indication of how long he is in the post.

"It would be nice to get a chance but then you need a chance to do the job properly," he adds.

"I do know the players and I know what is needed. Now can we do anything about it?

"There is a lot of ability in the club so I don't think anything too drastic is needed.

"But it is a young team and we do need a fresh face or two to give the place a lift.

"Without being negative I would have taken a 0-0 to stop the rot," said Barrow. "Their first goal was typical of what's been happening to us because it was a poor one to concede.

"Everyone had a lot of time for Andy Preece but his life goes on, and so does life for us. That's the message I'm trying to get across."

With Preece gone to Carlisle -- and scoring on his debut against Torquay -- Lee Unsworth injured, and Phil Gulliver having returned to Middlesbrough, Barrow had plenty of selection problems. He brought in Justin Thompson for his debut and played Matt Barrass for Unsworth.

And apart from a Lee Duxbury header cleared off the line and a couple of shots by Lee Connell and Terry Dunfield in the second half, the Shakers never looked likely to score.

In contrast, Orient were always a threat and once again Bury were indebted to Glynn Garner for some fine saves and the Londoners failure to convert some superb openings.

It took Bury until the 37th minute to carve out a chance for themselves, the ball breaking to Thompson but he spooned it over the crossbar.

Barrow didn't make any changes at half-time and Bury were looking more comfortable until disaster struck when Zakuani drilled in from eight yards.

Worse was to follow, two minutes later when Alexander doubled Orient's advantage. And he nearly added a third before the end, but the woodwork came to Bury's rescue.

Bury: Garner 7, Swailes 6, Duxbury 6 (6 Kennedy 65), Thompson 6 (Nugent 86), Barrass 6, Dunfield 5, Connell 5, O'Shaughnessy 5, Woodthorpe 6, Porter 5 (5 Seddon 52), O'Neill 5; Subs not used: Clegg, Solly.

Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)

Attendance: 3475