LEAGUE Two is becoming a breeding ground for the next generation of managers, Blues boss Gareth Ainsworth believes.

A number of recently-retired players are taking their first steps into management in the Football League's bottom tier and Ainsworth faces another of them against Bury on Saturday.

His former Preston team mate David Flitcroft will be in the visiting dugout and Ainsworth is pleased so many former pros are willing to cut their managerial teeth lower down the football ladder.

He said: "Having that many clubs and playing that many games, I'm bound to come up against some of my ex team mates, but there seems to be one round the corner every week.

"I've played with some good players and intelligent lads. It's great to see them getting in and forging careers in football management.

"It's good to see how people have moved on and changed and got their own philosophies, while thinking you never saw that in someone. It's really interesting. It goes to show you can never tell at an early stage in which direction someone's going to go - I'm sure a lot of them thought I would never end up being a manager.

"It's good to have a drink with them after and be on the level with them. Against some of the top guys the respect is there and don't know what to say - it's nice to have a friendly face now and again."