STAN Ternent is set for an early reunion with the referee responsible for landing the Burnley manager a hefty touchline ban.

The Football Association have ordered Ternent to the stands for four matches and fined him £3,000 after finding him guilty of 'improper conduct' following a clash with ref Graham Laws during the FA Cup fourth round tie at Turf Moor in January.

Ternent's punishment is to be banished from the touchline for four crucial games commencing Monday, April 5 - against Walsall (A), Watford (H), Cardiff City (A) and Wimbledon (H).

But before then, in an ironic twist, Laws has been appointed as the man to take charge when the Clarets travel to Valley Parade this weekend for a potential powderkeg clash with Roses rivals Bradford.

Ternent's charge comes in the wake of a row on the pitch with Laws at half time of the fourth round Gills' cup clash, which the Clarets eventually won 3-1.

An X-rated first half ended with visiting trio Tommy Johnson, Darius Henderson and John Hills all booked for scything down Burnley players.

Ternent was incensed, and confronted Laws as the teams walked off at the interval - an incident the referee later included in his report to the FA.

After that game, Ternent told reporters: "All credit to my players for not getting involved, but no credit to me because at half time I asked the referee why he hadn't booked Hills before he whacked Robbie Blake.

"Apparently I embarrassed him and was sent to the stands for the second half for asking a civilised question.

"I knocked on the door half an hour after the game, which I am allowed to do, but he wouldn't allow me in. It's a ridiculous state of affairs. Absolutely ridiculous."

Ternent can appeal against the ban and the fine, but seems unlikely to do so since the punishment can actually be increased if such an appeal is thrown out.

It is the second time in successive seasons Ternent has suffered a touchline ban.

He was found guilty of improper conduct and abusive language following comments made to referee Barry Knight during the Clarets 3-2 defeat to Wolves at Turf Moor in March 2002.

The controversial game saw Gareth Taylor have a headed 'goal' disallowed while Wolves first goal was later shown to be clearly offside.

However, Ternent received a £2,500 fine and a two-match touchline ban effective the following October, when he famously auctioned off his seat on the bench to supporters.