BURNLEY chief Stan Ternent will step up his search for a new goalkeeper after having a bid for Everton's Paul Gerrard rejected.

Ternent lodged an offer with the Premiership club but has not been back in for the England under-21 international after that was rejected by Blues boss Walter Smith.

Gerrard, who would be rated in the six-figure bracket, joined Everton from Oldham for £1 million three years ago when former Everton manager Joe Royle returned to Boundary Park to recruit the player he had brought through the ranks.

But the 26-year-old has played just a handful of top-flight games for Everton and finished last season on loan at First Division Oxford United with Thomas Myhre and Steve Simonsen ahead of him in the pecking order at Goodison.

However, Myhre has broken a leg while on duty with the Norwegian national team which has weakened Everton's goalkeeping resources and may have led to a re-think on the future of Gerrard.

With Everton still struggling for cash, Smith may also have seen Simonsen - a highly rated 20-year-old bought for a big fee from Tranmere Rovers - as a saleable asset which could have seen Gerrard promoted back to the number two role behind Myhre.

Gerrard, an imposing keeper at six feet, two inches tall, would have been an impressive signing for the Clarets, who have only one senior keeper on their books.

Paul Crichton took on the keeper's role at Turf Moor when he signed from West Bromwich Albion for £75,000 last November. And despite Burnley's shocking defensive record prior to their end-of-season recovery, Crichton's first campaign with the Clarets could be classed as a success.

However, his name may not yet be inked in on Burnley's number one shirt for next season and Ternent's move for Gerrard suggests he is not necessarily looking to sign someone as cover.

The Burnley boss, who released Norwegian keeper Frank Kval but kept on youngster Craig Mawson at the end of last season, is keen to foster competition for every place within his squad and will now extend his search for a rival to Crichton.

At the other end of the pitch, Ternent has been linked with a move for Bristol Rovers' prolific striker Jamie Cureton. However, that looks like a non-starter as Rovers, who have had no contact from Burnley, would only consider parting with the 23-year-old if they were offered a massive sum.

Manager Ian Holloway has stressed that Bristol-born Cureton, who scored 29 goals last season, is not for sale.

And the club's vice-chairman has claimed it would take "a monumental fee" for Rovers to be tempted. With Rovers raking in £2m from Fulham for Barry Hayles they would want similar for former Norwich striker Cureton, who will attract the attention of higher ranked clubs again if he continues his rich vein of form next season.

A similar "not for sale" message is likely to be delivered from Burnley to Charlton Athletic, who are reportedly interested in winger Glen Little.

Brian Reid, released by Burnley at the end of last season, has signed a three-year contract with Scottish First Division club Dunfermline Athletic, meaning a return north of the border for the former Rangers and Morton defender.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.