RED wine, Nando’s and intense speculation about his future - it is all in a day’s work for Bury manager Alan Knill.

It has been a busy week for the Shakers boss, who helped to sweeten the deal to extend the loan of Manchester United striker Nicky Ajose with a bottle of claret for Sir Alex Ferguson.

And, after a bout of swine flu, Knill sent winger David Worrall to Nando’s yesterday for his lunch to try and regain some of the weight he lost during his illness.

But the main thing on Knill’s menu this week has been his future, with his name being linked with the vacancies at Port Vale, Burnley and Bristol Rovers.

The job at Vale Park has now been filled by Jim Gannon, but the bookmakers have installed the Gigg Lane gaffer as second favourite behind Torquay United’s Paul Buckle for the Bristol Rovers opening.

It has been a frenetic week, and Knill believes the speculation can present problems.

“It is all flattering and distracting at the same time,” said Knill. “I came into training yesterday and the players were talking about my situtation and I would much prefer them to be talking about the Accrington game tomorrow.

“That is the most important thing, not whether I am going to be the next manager of this team or that team. My job is to manager Bury Football Club and their job is to play.”

There are a number of jobs up for grabs in the lower leagues at present, with Charlton, Walsall and Stockport County all dismissing their manager’s this week.

And the brutal nature of the job does concern Knill.

“It shows you how ridiculous football management is,” he said. “It has got to the stage where nothing surprises me.

“You look at Chris Hughton and Sam Allardyce and it shows that it is irrelevant how well you do - it all comes down to if the new owner has a different idea.

“I know Phil Parkinson, Chris Hutchings and Paul Simpson well. They are all managers that I respect and have known for years but sometimes it is out of the manager’s control if somebody above them wants to go in a different direction.”

Bury travel to face Accrington tomorrow hoping for their first win in five matches, but their form is not a worry for Knill.

“It is only a worry if you are not playing well, but that is far from the case,” he said. “It is important that we don’t ease up now - we need to keep our foot on the pedal.

“It will be a tough game at Accrington, it always is.”

Andy Bishop is Bury’s only injury problem ahead of the Lancashire derby.