BURY skipper Nick Daws has spoken about his disbelief over the Shakers current financial plight.

The long-serving midfielder is as saddened as anyone about the situation but even he couldn't believe it when he was told he would have to play at Accrington Stanley in the recent fund-raising fixture.

"I couldn't believe it at first," recalls Daws. "I had to ask again if they were sure it was Accrington and then, when I found out the game was at their ground, it was hard not to laugh. But everyone here is aware of the club's desperate need for money and the feeling was, and still is, that we will do anything to achieve that.

"It was a massive culture shock, although we've never been a club that has competed with the likes of Manchester United, and we end up mucking in to play the Radcliffe Boroughs of this world every pre-season.

"We've never gone cap in hand to anyone before, but Accrington were fantastic. They were gracious enough to help us and we went there, conducted ourselves in the proper manner and won the game, which was vitally important because we didn't want to be embarrassed. Then we got the hell out of there!" Daws also revealed his frustration with the Bury fans who, he says, have expectations that are simply too high for a club of Bury's size.

"Sometimes I get infuriated with the fans because of what they expect," he explained. "I go on the website for a laugh every now and again and you should see some of the things they say. I truly don't understand what they expect.

"We are a club with no major backer and a young manager, Andy Preece, who can't bring any players in.

"He struggles to get loan signings and, if he does, it has to be a 19-year-old who is unproven because of the players' wage demands. It always seems to be a case of 'We should be doing better' when the reality is the best we can expect at the moment is to tread water. It all comes down to cash and these days, it's very rare you see a Bury top in town unless we're playing at home.

"Every Saturday when I approach Gigg Lane for home games, there's a sea of City or United shirts waiting to catch trams into Manchester, I don't think many of them would want to come and watch Bury when their side is away and It's only going to get worse for teams like us."

Daws also acknowledged that he is the one man wh has k whe Shakes thro tk and thinandave an unusual welanon ao whe wcen a club captain.

"I'm the only one who has stuck things out here and I think the club have had good value for the £10,000 they paid for me," he insists.

"I sort of expected to be named captain after Chris left for Huddersfield. I had deputised for him and, to be honest, I think the club were looking for someone who wasn't going to go out and get bladdered every Friday night.

"II see the captain's job as trying to help out the younger lads in the squad, but equally, I'm not a ranter and a raver. I don't believe in that and I just try to encourage and be myself." Nick Daws

"I do have a running joke with the local press at the moment though, because they always seem to pick me when we get beat. The goalscorer's and match-savers get all the attention when we win, but it's always the bloody captain who has the explaining to do when we lose!"