Cummings and Goings with Stephen Cummings

STRONG leadership. It's essential in the running of any successful football club. And at Turf Moor at the moment you can find evidence of it everywhere. On the pitch, skipper Steve Davis captains the side with a steely determination.

From the dugout, Ternent masterminds operations. And in the boardroom, Barry Kilby continues to look out for the best interests of Burnley Football Club.

One has to admire Kilby for any number of reasons; his positive, forward thinking outlook, his seemingly instinctive understanding and implementation of good PR and most of all his determination to get the best possible deal for the club.

The Chairman is clearly unwilling to either sell the club short or have it held to ransom. His stance of shirt sponsorship is evidence enough of this.

His refusal to accept a cut price deal sends out the signal that although the jersey may no longer be completely sacrosanct, it still commands a substantial sum to advertise your wares on it. His attitude towards the very public and very protracted Ian Moore transfer saga is also to be applauded. Funds appear to be tight enough as it is without shelling out over the odds for a player.

The money can be better spent elsewhere.

Kilby's decision also has the effect of letting other clubs know Burnley will not be held to ransom.

One side effect of the Ian Moore affair is to draw attention to the number of strikers already at the club.

In terms of out and out centre forwards we now have Payton, Cooke, Lee, Gray and the on-loan Paul Robinson.

The arrival of Moore would have brought the tally to six. Even that figure does not include Branch, Jepson or Mullin who have all figured in the Clarets front line this season.

Nor should one overlook the emergence of the free-scoring Anthony Shandran who is progressing well through the ranks.

Clearly, there is not enough room for everybody. Which brings us on to Andy Cooke. His omission from the last two squads has set alarm bells ringing amongst the supporters.

Is there something we should know?

The signals are confusing. Only this weekend, Ternent cited Cooke as an important squad member. Yet he hasn't featured since the 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.

We are told he is being rested, although one wonders what it is young Cookie has been up two which necessitates a fortnight's recuperaton.

It may be that fears of Cooke's departure are ill-founded. But I am sure I'm not the only one who would appreciate clarification on the situation.