CLARETS manager Stan Ternent delivered a blunt Christmas message to the board after the 4-2 defeat at Gillingham, as he said: "Show me the money."

Having seen his patched up team concede ten goals in two matches, he is asking chairman Barry Kilby to dig deep and find some money for fresh blood to give his players a much-needed lift.

And he also feels the board owes it to the club's loyal fans.

"Supporters have travelled 300 miles, people have given up their last Saturday before Christmas and we owe it to them to test whether we can afford the wages for some loan players," he said.

"I think that morally the club has to make a statement. Something needs to be done, anyone can see that.

"If the board can't do anything in the current situation I understand that but if we can we need to do it quickly, possibly before the Wolves match. I have not got much time with it being Christmas.

"If we can't bring anyone in, it will be a long hard winter. I understand the board's position but if we don't strengthen, we won't get results and the gates will drop off. We need to sit down and draw up our priorities."

The issue of bringing in loan players was high on the agenda at a board meeting at Turf Moor this morning but chairman Barry Kilby warned: "There is no guarantee we will be able to bring a rabbit out of the hat.

"Christmas is a hard time to bring in loan players and as I have always said it will depend on cost and availability. But I spoke to Stan yesterday and I am aware of the situation and his wish to strengthen."

The situation already looks like being critical for the FA Cup third round clash with Grimsby at Blundell Park a week on Saturday when Ternent will be without THREE key players.

The club is to appeal against the dismissals of Dean West and Gareth Taylor but the likelihood is that they, and winger Glen Little, booked for a the fifth time this season, will all be in the stand. At least no other players joined Steve Davis, Lee Briscoe, Paul Cook, Andy Payton and Gordon Armstrong on the treatment table but Ternent admitted that a number of his fit players are performing below par.

"I have got two, three or four players who are not playing as well as they can do but that happens throughout the season," he said. "I am not able to change the team because of form but I expected that would happen this season.

"We will battle on and we will certainly stay in this division. The thing is, having finished seventh twice, if we don't strengthen the squad it is hard."

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler is backing Ternent: "He is a top manager, a nice fella and I know Stan will get it right."