DAVID Flitcroft has vowed to help Bury chairman Stewart Day realise his vision of propelling the struggling League Two club into the Championship within five years.

The Bolton-born former Shakers player, who was sacked as manager of Barnsley last month, said it took him just 30 minutes to be won over by Day.

And the 39-year-old now hopes to repay the chairman’s faith in him.

“We are blessed here at this football club by a really forward-thinking board that shares a vision of going places,” he said.

“Within 30 minutes of meeting Stewart I knew I wanted to work for him. Now I want Stewart and this board and our fans to be part of something special.”

Flitcroft made more than 100 appearances for Bury between 2004 and 2006 after being brought to the club by Graham Barrow.

He returns with a wealth of coaching experience under his belt after working as assistant to Keith Hill at Rochdale and at Oakwell, before going on to replace him as Tykes boss.

Flitcroft defied the odds to keep Barnsley in the Championship in his first season, but was sacked after less than a year in charge, with the club bottom of the table.

But after spending just 10 days without a job, he was straight out onto the training pitch today after agreeing terms to take over the hotseat last night.

“It’s a shock to be back involved so soon, but I am as excited now as I was when I first started playing football,” he said.

“There’s a real feel-good factor about the place and it’s a project that I really want to get my teeth stuck into.

“I want to get into every avenue of this football club.

“I see a bigger picture.

"Yes we are a League Two club and yes we are down near the bottom of the Football League, but we have a great aspiration to win a lot of football matches this season, next season and after that.

"There’s a real determination to get us out of this league and beyond that and that’s why I wanted to be part of this journey.”

The club announced last night that caretaker boss Ronnie Jepson, who led Bury to two wins, five draws and three defeats from his 10 league and cup matches in charge, would be leaving with immediate effect.

And it was confirmed this morning that Fred Barber, the former Bolton Wanderers goalkeeping coach, would also be leaving, although reserve team coach Ben Futcher has been retained.

Jepson, who took over from Kevin Blackwell following his sacking in October, believes he has left behind a squad capable of competing for honours in League Two, despite their current 20th position.

He said: “I have galvanised the lads together and Flitters (David Flitcroft) has got a good set of players. With two or three additions it will be a top team.

“I have got the hard games out of the way. Flitters has a nice four games coming up that are all winnable. So he should get off to a good start and I wish him well.”

Flitcroft’s first game in charge is at home to second-bottom Northampton Town on Saturday. Bury then face a long trip to Plymouth (Dec 21) before ending the year with two home matches against Scunthorpe (Boxing Day) and York (December 29).