STEVE Blatherwick has joined the mini-exodus from Turf Moor by joining Chesterfield on loan.

Blatherwick follows Mark Winstanley and Tony Parks in finding new clubs on a temporary basis at least and should make his debut for the Spireites at Manchester City tomorrow.

The loan deal represents another sound move for both parties with the central defender currently on the transfer list at Burnley and manager Stan Ternent seemingly needing to generate some funds, or at least trim the wage bill, to bring new faces in.

"It puts him in the shop window with a chance to sell himself to Chesterfield or anybody else," confirmed Ternent.

It's the ideal move for Nottingham-based Blatherwick who played against Chesterfield for Burnley earlier this season when the Clarets lost to a late penalty.

And his switch leaves just Lee Howey and Michael Williams, who have both been nursing injury problems, of the four players made available by Ternent following the home defeat by York City to get fixed up.

The big change-around at Burnley is clearly illustrated by the fact that of the side that goes in search of a first away win of the season at Gillingham tomorrow, only two started the game between the two sides at Priestfield Stadium in January.

Andy Cooke and skipper Chris Brass are the only two survivors, although the situation is slightly exaggerated by the chronic injury problems the Clarets are suffering.

Neil Moore and Mark Ford also played in the 2-0 defeat which left Burnley bottom of the table and in serious relegation danger and they are ruled out tomorrow when Ternent will rely again on several of his young players. Gareth West is added to a 15-man squad for the first time this season after an impressive showing in the reserves in midweek and teenage midfielder Paul Graham looks set to make the bench for a possible debut.

"It shows the transition the club is going through at the moment. The manager is trying to get it right and he has brought in a lot of new faces. It's the way forward and hopefully we will get it right now," said Brass who remembers last season's defeat to the Gills as a defining moment.

Burnley from: Ward, Brass, Armstrong, Robertson, Swan, Reid, Little, C Smith, Cooke, Payton, West, Scott, M Heywood, C Carr-Lawton, P Graham.

Gillingham from: Bartram, Patterson, Galloway, Smith, Bryant, Carr, Saunders, Pennock, Hessenthaler, Asaba, Southall, Taylor, Butler, Hodge, Pinnock, Edge.

The Clarets' under-18s are at home to Bury tomorrow in the Football League's North-West Conference.

Burnley Supporters' Club pick-up times for tomorrow's game at Gillingham are: Tim Bobbin 6.45am, Colne 7.00, Nelson 7.15, Burnley 7.30, Rawtenstall 7.45.

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