ENGLAND and Chelsea legend Alan Hudson has tipped Adrian Heath to bring the glory days back to Turf Moor.

The seventies midfield maestro says his former Stoke City team-mate is a sure fire bet for managerial success.

And Hudson - who recently launched his book 'The Working Man's Ballet' - pulls no punches.

Hudson said: "There have been more then a few interesting managerial appointments in 1996 - Trevor Francis, Adrian Heath and Graeme Souness to name but three. "Francis' track record is about as good as mine as regards falling out with people. I do have serious reservations about him as a manager.

"Birmingham's owner David Sullivan is obviously a brilliant businessman but he has dropped an almighty clanger this time.

"I'm sure it won't be long before a very obvious change is made and the old warhorse Steve Bruce takes over from Francis."

But Hudson has no doubt that Heath will deliver the goods at Turf Moor.

"The best appointment was made before the 1995/96 campaign ended and that's Adrian Heath at Burnley.

"Adrian is a bright and intelligent fella and the sort of manager I would have liked to work under. If I was a Burnley supporter I'd be really excited about the prospect of having him as manager of the club.

"He has learned well from the likes of Howard Kendall, which will stand him in good stead.

"His first priority when he took over from Jimmy Mullen at the end of last season was to keep them in the Second Division. He managed to do that and I believe he will take the proud old club on to bigger and better things.

"By all accounts they are playing some good football and the arrival of Paul Barnes, who I always thought was a good prospect in the reserves at Stoke, will prove a good signing.

"Heath is one a new crop of managers who, I believe, one day will manage in the Premiership. He is following in the footsteps of the likes of Martin O'Neill and Mark McGhee."

Hudson added: "I bumped into Adrian recently and was able to have a good chat with him about his new role. "Strangely enough, we met in a really odd place-a Bermudan restaurant/bar in Central London. He was down in the smoke on transfer business. But whenever we get together the talk is always the same.

"He talked about his plans for Burnley and I listened to what he had to say with great interest. From what I heard I was really impressed.

"I feel I was always a good judge on whether a player will make a manager and Adrian will.

"I've absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will be a really successful manager because he is the type of guy who is a born winner.

"He was a young lad at the Victoria Ground when I first arrived there and has always been a very passionate guy who was really serious about his football.

"Apart from Robbie Williams, he is the last real star to come out of Stoke-on-Trent!

"He was a really sharp boy then. Always wanting to know more about the game and he would constantly be asking questions.

"He is a fella who has always had to do things the hard way. His sheer talent made sure he was going to be a success on the field and his footballing brain will make sure he is a winner as a manager."

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