CLARETS chairman Barry Kilby is ready to meet with manager Stan Ternent this week to discuss the possibility of strengthening the squad.

Having suffered the hammer blow of losing influential skipper Steve Davis for up to three months, Ternent's already meagre playing resources are being stretched to the limit.

Paul Cook, Lee Briscoe and Andy Payton are all likely to be missing at Gillingham on Saturday leaving Ternent with just 16 fit players. If a couple of others were suddenly to pick up injuries or suspensions, Ternent will need the Burnley board to play Santa.

There is little or no money to bring in any permanent signings but Ternent has had success with loan signings in the past and that may be his only option.

"It is safe to say I will have to talk with Stan about it," admitted Kilby, who has always promised his door will be open to his manager.

But he was quick to warn: "We will have to assess the situation and any move will depend on the finances involved.

"If anyone comes in, it has got to be someone we want but also someone we can afford. At the moment we are looking at the situation and if we identify targets we will see if it is possible to bring them in.

"We will keep an eye on it and Stan is always welcome to ask about players, but we have also got the kids who are trying to break into the squad."

Kilby admitted the financial problems created by the collapse of ITV Digital have been increased by a drop in the average attendance at Turf Moor.

"We have seen a drop in the number of walk-ons and we are down about £15,000 a match," he said.

But on the plus side, the club has been boosted by somewhere in the region of £400,000-£450,000 from the Worthington Cup run.

There is also the prospect of the hand-out agreed by the Premier League that will boost club funds by around £680,000 by next August, with half of that sum due shortly.

The club undoubtedly has a dilemma as the crowds will only increase if Burnley can push towards the play-offs in the new year.

But that will need them to bring in fresh faces to cover for important losses, not least Davis.

All three of the other centre back options played in the reserves last night, Ian Cox, Arthur Gnohere and Mark McGregor, in an attempt to get them match fit but it is only in attack that Ternent has any real options.

He admitted: "With a squad this size, picking a team based on form is not an option. I will just have to go with the players who are fit and available."