PORT Vale boss John Rudge is poised to up his bid in an attempt to lure Glen Little away from Turf Moor.

The Vale boss faxed a £750,000 offer for the Clarets winger yesterday which was turned down by the Burnley board.

But he looks set to come back with an improved offer of £1m which would break the Clarets transfer record -- if accepted.

Burnley boss Stan Ternent was adamant he would not let his star man go but he has not closed the door altogether on a big money offer from a Premiership club in the future.

"There was an offer of £750,000 from Port Vale which has been turned down by the board," said the Clarets chief.

"I am trying to build a side here not dismantle one.

"Glen has just signed a three year contract in the summer and he is settled at the club but he has been informed of the situation.

"It would be a bit different if a Premiership club came in with a bigger bid. Out of fairness to Glen I would have to discuss it with the player.

"But on this occasion I have recommended to the board that under no circumstances would I be prepared to sell Glen Little for that amonut of money."

That won't prevent Rudge from coming back with an improved offer and he has the cash to up the ante following Gareth Ainsworth's £2m move to Wimbledon last week.

The Port Vale boss is a long-standing admirer of Little, who has also been linked with Sunderland recently, and again ran the rule over the Clarets wide man in Tuesday night's match against Stoke. "I think he is a player who would excite the crowd because he is a good footballer who can beat a player," said Rudge.

"He's got a style all of his own and I couldn't compare him to any of our previous wingers."

Meanwhile, Burnley's first round tie with Darlington has been delayed until next Tuesday night after police ruled that the game couldn't go ahead at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

The Third Division club had switched the fixture because of drainage problems at Feethams.

But with the police having the final say and no chance of switching the game to Turf Moor, despite Burnley's willingness to stage the tie, then the Clarets' fans must make a mid-week trip to Middlesbrough.

"It's a poor do for the supporters because they are now going to have to go up there in midweek and not get back until the early hours of Wednesday morning," said Ternent.

"It seems like the police are running the game these days.

"It's Burnley against Darlington in the first round of the FA Cup not Real Madrid against Benfica. How much notice do they need?"

That extra time will at least guarantee that the Clarets' name goes into the second round draw.

Ternent will have to plan without loan signing John O'Kane and striker Andy Cooke, who completes a four-match ban, for the Darlington game.

But he has been boosted by the return to fitness of Mark Ford and Peter Swan should also benefit from the extra breathing space in his bid to shrug off an Achilles' tendon injury. Ford came through a full 90 minutes in Tuesday night's game against Stoke City and is looking to the cup game as another step in his bid to re-establish himself at Turf Moor.

"I just can't wait to get the games under my belt and keep playing and show Stan and Sam what I can do," said Ford who has between now and the end of the season to win a new contract with the club.

"I want to stay here. I like the people round here and I am settled," he added.

Ford's ball-winning abilities are likely to be invaluable in the heat and passion of a cup-tie, even if the intensity is diluted slightly by the move away from Feethams.

Burnley won't want to fall at the first hurdle of another cup competition and Ford believes that despite the injury problems they should be encouraged by parts of their performance against Stoke.

Rossendale Clarets are running a coach to Middlesbrough for the rearranged FA Cup first round tie against Darlington on Tuesday.

But they urgently need to know how many they are catering for, so anyone interested should contact Bev on 01706 224924 as soon as possible.

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