IT might be Friday 13th, but Chris Casper is not about to go stepping round cracks in the pavement.

The Bury boss insists he is not a superstitious person, but can point to a couple of his former Manchester United teammates who certainly are.

The Shakers dressing room also has its fair share of superstitions. Striker Andy Bishop allegedly won't wear the number nine shirt, and director of football Keith Alexander had a lucky pair of yellow socks throughout his time at Lincoln.

When asked, Brian Barry-Murphy also claimed he was superstitious about talking to the press on Friday 13...

But Casper says he has never subscribed to the idea of jinxes and hoodoos.

"It sounds a bit mixed up, but I have always been superstitious about not being superstitious," Casper said.

"I don't like the idea of relying on doing something a certain way, or blaming that if something goes wrong.

"I've played with a lot of players who are - Peter Schmeichel used to wear a new pair of socks every single game.

"Eric Cantona had the collar thing - and Paul Ince was a nightmare, he wouldn't put his shirt on before he went out, wouldn't warm-up with the lads, and all sorts of stuff."

And the Bury boss also cast a doubtful eye on the superstition of his prized striker, Bishop.

"If Alex Ferguson offered him the number nine shirt at United, we'd see how superstitious he would be then," he said.