Turf Beat

Stan: I'd love Glen back here

STAN Ternent is keeping the door wide open for Glen Little if his Premiership trial with Bolton falls flat.

This weekend's international break means Clarets winger Little must wait another seven days before getting the chance to impress Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce.

But Burnley boss Ternent, who urged the winger to give it a go in the top flight, will welcome Little back with open arms if Big Sam fails to make the loan move permanent.

Ternent said: "Glen has a great opportunity to impress Sam in the Premiership, but if it doesn't work out for him he is more than welcome here and at the end of the season, if we can't sort something out for him, we will still be in the market place trying to keep him."

Ternent does not blame the fans' favourite for turning down a new contract this week, which would have tied Little to the club until 2006 and earned him a potentially lucrative testimonial.

He added: "We offered Glen a new four-year deal with a reduction in wages on this year's, but he feels he wants to stay on his current salary and see the contract out.

"He is well within his rights to do that and I don't blame him for doing it. From a selfish point of view, I would like to have Glen here with Gareth (Farrelly), Delroy (Facey), Andy (Todd) and all the rest, but unfortunately the financial implications don't allow that."

Little himself has been has been like a kid in a candy store since joining Wanderers in the loan swap that brought Farrelly and Facey to Turf Moor.

And his only regret is that the initial one-month loan gives him just three games to prove he is worth either a contract offer or a longer look.

"A month is better than nothing. I've been waiting five or six years for this chance and I thought it might have passed me by, but Sam has shown faith in me and I'm trying to repay that faith."

Davis handed new role

NEWS reaches me that former Clarets skipper Steve Davis could soon be about to follow Chris Brass on the managerial ladder.

Davis, who joined Blackpool this summer, is now in the twilight of his career as a player after serving Burnley so well for almost a decade in two spells.

And following Seasiders' stalwart Mike Davies' recent departure from Bloomfield Road, Davis has taken over managerial duties of the second string.

Currently, Davis is operating in a 'caretaker' capacity, but a little bird tells me to watch this space as a permanent appointment could well be on the cards in the near future.

Dimi's coming back!

THESE are exciting times for another former Claret, Dimi Papadopoulos, who opened his League account for Panathinaikos last weekend with a brace in the 3-1 win over OFI.

Ironically Papadopoulos, who, before his transfer was set to miss much of this season by travelling abroad to national training camps, will soon be back on these shores when the crack Greek outfit visit Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 16 for a Champions League clash.

Glove story for Branch

STAN Ternent can hardly be faulted for pursuing his policy of carrying just one goalkeeper this season.

Finances dictate that Ternent is better using his limited resources to plug the outfield gaps in his squad - and anyhow, an able deputy is standing by in case Brian Jensen suffers a mid-match injury or red card.

Campbell got off lucky!

GOOD to see Barry Kilby hasn't lose his sense of humour.

The Burnley chairman welcomed Alistair Campbell to Turf Moor last Saturday in the wake of a) The Downing Street Spin Doctor's resignation and b) Gareth Taylor's shock move to Nottingham Forest.

Kilby greeted fellow Claret Cambell with the immortal line: "You're the lucky one. I have to face the Accrington Clarets on Monday!"

Have a night with the stars

FANCY a night out with the boys? Former Burnley stars Paul Fletcher and Steve Kindon, now successful after-dinner speakers, are pairing up for the first time in 30 years to pay tribute to the memories of their halcyon Turf Moor days.

Burnley Democratic League Club, on Plumb Street, is the venue for the historic event, when tickets are available to listen in and mingle with a whole host of ex-Clarets, including Mick Docherty, Colin Waldron, Geoff Nulty, Frank Casper, Jim Thompson, Alan Stevenson, Martin Dobson, Peter Noble and Eddie Cliff.

I'm assured the lads also have a few surprises in store on Monday, September 22, 7.30pm. Tickets, priced at £10 - including a pie and peas supper - are now available from Alan Beecroft on 07976 965982.

Graphite's a hit

BURNLEY'S new graphite away shirt is proving a masive hit with supporters. In the three weeks of being on sale, the club shop have shifted over 1,000 replicas, smashing all previous records. Chairman Barry Kilby has already hailed the strip as "the fastest selling in history", while Stores Manager Dean Williams hopes to exceed the previous best selling away shirt, last season's dark blue number, which sold over 3,000 in its year of release.

Women rule!

THE Burnley squad was on its best behaviour earlier this week following an invasion of women to Gawthorpe.

Hope Powell's England Ladies were using the Clarets training ground in readiness for Thursday's friendly against Australia at Turf Moor.

The Clarets squad was therefore banished to the "top pitch" - proving that women really do pull the strings.

Happy Chad

STEP forward Luke Chadwick, who has won a place in the Nationwide Football League Team of the Week. The on-loan Manchester United star was selected for being the creative spark in last Saturday's win over Crewe.