NEVER mind the transfer window shutting up on Saturday night, there could be a few managers tempted to throw themselves out of the window in a few weeks time.

FIFA's controversial plans for the worldwide window continue to be fought by the Nationwide League but, even if they get exemption, they are still going to be stuffed.

Let's face it, apart from Harry Redknapp at Pompey, it is only the managers in the top flight who have got two pennies to rub together and most of them have been doing a passable impression of Ebeneezer Scrooge throughout the summer.

But the fact is, in the past they have been able to react to crises on the pitch by dipping into the coffers, gambling a bit of money and freshening their squads up.

Not now - and that could spell very bad news for Football League clubs, including Burnley.

The last thing Stan Ternent wants to do is sell any of his already stretched squad but, in the new real world of football, he knows he might have to.

The problem is that the "emergency" that the chairman Barry Kilby has spoken about could happen sooner than January 1 when the transfer window will be flung open again.

Let's face it, it was not for fun that the players were cooped up on a coach for five and a half hours before last night's match at Reading.

Money really is tight at the Turf and the fact that the squad has been patched up by the return of Lennie Johnrose on a month long deal shows that the belt may have to go a couple more notches yet.

But if the home fans did not have much to cheer against the Blades, the sight of Lennie leaping into a couple of typically "solid" tackles certainly warmed the cockles.

He was always a popular member of the playing staff and would never have been let go if things had been different financially.

I actually started writing these notes before the kick-off of last night's match at Reading and I have already been asked by a number of fans whether the manager is going to quit.

There is no doubt he appeared to have reached the end of his tether with a second dismal display in the first four games of the season.

But he has been angry before and he has talked about quitting before and last night he did not say he would be going, rather he needed to sleep on things.

His assertion that he has never walked away from a problem suggests he will be in charge against Palace at the weekend but, beyond that, only time will tell.