IT is not the players, the directors or the stadium that make a football club what it is – it is always the supporters.

They are the only constant and in many respects the only people that matter.

Bury has a core of around 2,500 supporters, and if you strip that back even further there are the 128 who made the trip to watch them draw 0-0 at Stevenage on Tuesday night.

They are the lifeblood and when these fans talk, the board, management and players have a duty to listen.

It is not always easy, of course, to hear the abuse you get from the stands when you are emotionally involved, like David Flitcroft and his players clearly are.

I certainly had my fair share as a player at Gigg Lane and I would be lying if I didn’t admit to the odd disagreement with supporters.

But I always respected what they had to say, even if I didn’t agree with it.

Now I go to matches as a scout, I sit in the stands next to the supporters and some of the things I hear them say has me shaking my head.

But I will always protect their right to say it.

I know Flicker took exception to some of the abuse meted out to Danny Mayor at the weekend, and felt the need to stick up for his player.

That is also his right as a manager, and when barracking from the crowd moves away from football issues and becomes personal, there is no place for it.

But just because Danny is a matchwinner for Bury does not mean that he should be somehow above a ticking off from the fans.

In many ways, when Danny misplaces a pass or loses the ball, he deserves abuse more than any other player on the pitch because fans know he is capable of so much more.

His biggest enemy, at times, can be himself, and if supporters sense he is becoming sloppy then they almost have a duty to let him know about it.

What is great about a club like Bury, at least when I was a player, is that you have the opportunity to have a close relationship with the fans.

I got to know many of them to talk to while I was at Gigg Lane and still recognise the same faces when I go back to the club and have a natter.

These people are no mugs.

They have seen some great players over the years, like Colin Bell, Martin Dobson, Craig Madden and David Lee, so in a funny way, when they feel moved to have their say I think players should take it as a compliment.