BURY caretaker boss Ronnie Jepson may have distanced himself from the vacant manager’s job, but vice captain Tom Soares is rooting for him to get the position full-time.

The Shakers midfielder faced the media yesterday for the first time since previous boss Kevin Blackwell got the sack.

And while the 26-year-old accepted his and his team-mates’ poor performances cost Blackwell his job, he feels they can now help do Jepson a favour – starting with a win at Portsmouth tomorrow. #

“Ronnie’s got the job at the moment and I think he will keep it, I think he will do brilliant,” said Soares.

“He’s been around a long time, he knows his football and he knows what he’s doing.

“I have got 100 per cent belief in him that he can do it and we are just going to go out there and play as hard as we can for him.”

Soares admits he is still shocked by Blackwell’s departure and says his sacking has not lifted any of the pressure that had been building on the players following recent poor results.

Bury have only won twice in 11 games in League Two all season and have not won in eight matches in all competitions.

“Me personally, and the whole team feel we let the gaffer down,” he said. “The buck always stops with the manager, but we are the ones who have been out there not getting the results.

“Maybe a lot of pressure had built on the gaffer, but that was the players’ fault.

“That pressure is still there for the players. We have just got to be men and deal with it and go out there and do what we need to do.”

Jepson has attempted to lift the pressure on chairman Stewart Day by refusing to say he wants the job, publically at least.

While people like former Accrington boss John Coleman have voiced their desire for the job, and big names like Steve Kean have been linked to the position, Jepson has preferred to keep his feelings under wraps.

“I’ve not knocked on the chairman’s door saying I want the job,” said Jepson. “I’ve even stood with the chairman when his phone has been going off and emails have been coming through from prospective managers.

“I’m surprised my mother hasn’t applied for it there’s that many.

“It’s no surprise – it’s football. We’re not silly, we know what goes on, and if the chairman decides to appoint somebody else then I wish him all the best.

“If I’m here for the next two years or the next two weeks, it doesn’t matter. We will shake hands and call it a draw when the day comes.”

Jepson’s immediate concern is picking a team to win at Portsmouth.

He revealed winger Craig Jones will travel to Fratton Park, despite still struggling with a groin strain, but Marco Navas and Rob Lainton are out.

The caretaker boss also hinted new loan signing Danny Hylton could go straight into the starting line-up alongside Anton Forrester.