STAN Ternent may have had a dig at some of the Premiership managers last week, but one can't speak highly enough of his former mentor.

West Ham boss Glenn Roeder spent a season at Turf Moor as assistant to player-manager Chris Waddle and he has revealed that they turned to Ternent for advice as they looked in danger of being relegated to the third division.

Ternent claimed last weekend that he was better qualified to manage a Premiership side than the likes of Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren and the ex-Leicester boss Peter Taylor.

And Roeder, a surprise choice himself to succeed Harry Redknapp at Upton Park, has nothing but admiration for Ternent.

"Chris and I always knew which pub to track him down to when we needed some advice," said Roeder.

"He's a Burnley man through and through and it's great that someone so involved in the town and the club is having the success he is achieving."

Waddle and Roeder had a difficult season in charge, taking over in the summer of 1997 and narrowly avoiding relegation before parting company with the Clarets at the end of it to be replaced by Ternent.

"What has happened since we left has been down to one man - Stan Ternent," said Roeder, whose West Ham side face Blackburn tomorrow.

"He has done a tremendous job and, along with his staff and the board, deserves great credit for taking Burnley to where they are now."

But Ternent had a tough time after taking control after leaving Bury.

"He had a difficult start himself, and wanted to quit, but the people around him and the board changed his mind and now they are reaping the rewards."

Roeder enjoyed his time at Turf Moor as coach, despite the ups and downs. He said: "Chris invited me to come and work with the players as he wanted to carry on playing. I enjoyed the experience, although we had a very difficult season.

"Chris and I both lived near the ground and we soon found out how passionate the fans were. I hadn't realised before quite how passionate they are.

"I'd played at Turf Moor before but you just turn up on a coach, get off, play a game and get back on the coach again.

"But I didn't realise just quite how big the club was in terms of the fans and the passion they have for it."

Roeder and Waddle realised the writing was on the wall after they failed to inspire the expected Clarets revival.

"It was a difficult time," he confessed. "Two months before the end of the season, Chris and I realised we would not be at the club after the end of it.

"But we were determined not to get relegated. We said that we wanted to leave the club where we picked it up - at the very least.

"If we had been relegated it would have been terrible for us, but it would have been twice as bad for the supporters.

"It went down to the wire, but we managed it - just. But it's great to see them up where they are now and I wish them every success."

He clearly believes under Ternent success is just what could be waiting around the corner.