WITH 18 days to go the only certainty is, well, uncertainty.

Nagging worries still remain over which division Burnley will be in next season, albeit eased considerably by last night's crucial victory against Wimbledon.

And doubts have also surfaced that Glen Little will not now be a Burnley player next season.

Reading are known admirers and, after a few clandestine, long-distance conversations, it's clear to me that Steve Coppell WILL seek to land Little this summer.

That fact shouldn't surprise us, given the quality of player we are talking about.

How the Burnley fans now react is another matter entirely.

Right now, it's hard to imagine a Burnley side without Glen.

The winger has been a constant in the ever-changing fortunes of the Clarets since November 1996.

A player to change a game; someone to build a team around; a winger of Premiership quality.

All of this and more has been laid at the twinkle-toed feet of the former Glentoran wide-man during an eventful seven-and-a-half years at Turf Moor.

But while much of the old magic still remains, there's a train of thought that Burnley fans have been restricted to glimpses of the real Glen in the past couple of seasons.

A generation of supporters grew used to the sight of the gangly wide man lolloping down the wing leaving defenders trailing in his wake.

Sadly, we've seen less and less of that as the team that Stan Ternent built has suffered a painful break-up.

This year his form has, in many ways, mirrored the club's roller-coaster season.

As for the up-coming predicament, the present contract of one of Burnley Football Club's highest paid players expires this summer.

You can bet your bottom dollar the top brass want him to stay, but equally Glen knows the terms on the table will be vastly reduced as boardroom bosses cut the cloth accordingly.

Therein lies the conundrum. If you were being tempted elsewhere with more money, a long-term contract, or both, wouldn't you naturally be tempted?

And wouldn't that temptation become a nagging itch if, as in Glen's case, you had a young family and the reported interest from Reading would enable you to return close to your London roots; grandparents, schools, et al?

Of course, while nothing is decided there is still hope. Hope that Glen will decide the Lancashire roots he has put down are firmly embedded and hope that Burnley are still able to offer the player First Division football.

But if Glen does succumb to the imminent lure, there's little doubt he should go with the fans' blessing.

We are talking about a player who cost Burnley just £100,000. The pleasure he's given back in return is immeasurable.