CHRIS Lucketti has spoken out about his ill-fated spell in charge of Bury.

The Gigg Lane legend, who was sacked last week, issued a statement exclusively to the Bury Times thanking everyone connected with the club.

It reads: "Firstly, I would like to thank Stewart Day for giving me the opportunity to manage Bury Football Club. I was honoured and proud to do so.

"I am obviously disappointed that my journey as Bury manager has only lasted just over seven weeks and that I haven't had the time to build a team that the magnificent Bury fans can be proud of.

"I knew the size of the of the project I was taking on when I was appointed manager and it was a challenge that I relished but unfortunately progress was slower than I would have anticipated due to the number of injuries to key players throughout the team.

"These players were just starting to become available for selection and we were responsibly managing their return to match fitness during the busy Christmas fixtures to prevent them from sustaining any further injury.

"Work was underway for when the January transfer window opened to bring in Hanson, Ripley and Clarke to improve the team. I am disappointed to have only had just over a week to work with them because I believe they would have had a real influence in enabling me to achieve the targets I had set out for the club.

"I accept that we have not achieved the results that we all wanted but I have always given my full commitment to looking for the solutions to bring us success.

"I have learned some very valuable lessons during this past seven weeks which, together with over 30 years playing and coaching experience, will only fuel me to manage again and strive to be the best I can be.

"The support I’ve received from the fans, firstly as a Bury player and then as manager, has always been incredible and I will always be very grateful to them for that.

"I thank all of my players and I sincerely hope that they and the club can maintain their League One status this season. I am sure with such fantastic fans' backing them the players will be able to give it a right go.

Chris."