WITH League One safety all but assured, thoughts behind the scenes at Bury will quickly turn to planning for next season.

And there are plenty of decisions for manager David Flitcroft to make as he mulls over which direction he wants his squad to take.

There could be a few familiar faces heading for the Gigg Lane exit with the contracts of eight first-team regulars due to run out at the end of the season.

Man-of-the-moment Ryan Lowe heads that list.

After struggling with injury problems earlier in the campaign, the 37-year-old striker has impressed since returning from a loan spell at Crewe. But it is not clear if the Merseysider's age will count against him earning another deal.

Utility man Craig Jones, who arrived at Gigg Lane in 2012, is only signed up until the end of the current campaign.

The 29-year-old always seems to get the job done, whichever role he is given, but has the Welshman has done enough to extend his stay?

Danny Pugh, another experienced head, has struggled to cement a regular place in the starting line-up.

He has not started more than five games in a row since signing in the summer, but the former Manchester United man brings an air of calmness to the team and his ability to read the game is second-to-none.

Reece Brown signed a six month contract in August, which was later extended to the end of the season. The 24-year-old has racked up 32 appearances while filling in at centre-back and as a holding midfielder, but doubts remain whether he can compete for a regular starting role.

Filling the goalkeeping position has provided Flitcroft with his biggest headache.

Rob Lainton played the first 12 games of the season after signing a 12-month contract but has not figured since being injured at Bradford in October.

That could possibly open the door for loan keeper Ian Lawlor, whose Manchester City deal runs out in the summer.

It seems unlikely striker Danny Nardiello, defender Keil O'Brien and winger Chris Eagles will be invited to return, while former youth team captain Marcus Poscha looks to be heading for an early exit.

Some of the holes left in the squad could be filled by the seven loan players plying their trade at Gigg Lane.

If Southend centre-back Cian Bolger, midfielders John O'Sullivan and Dan Gardner and Blackburn front man Nathan Delfouneso impress enough, that could cut down on the workload for Flitcroft in what will otherwise be a busy summer in the transfer market.