THE Turf Moor board of directors held a two-hour meeting last night to draw up a short list to appoint the new Burnley manager.

And the Clarets five-man board are still on course to have a new man at the Burnley helm before the next Division Two encounter at Bristol City a week today.

A list of 'between six and 10 names' appears to have been finalised and preliminary interviews will take place over the next 72 hours.

Burnley could be in a position to name the new man on Wednesday.

Director Bob Blakeborough explained: "We will be discussing the final applicants at length over the next few days.

"We will then invite the best of them to come and speak with us. It would be wrong to speculate on one candidate or another.

"That is something for the whole board to discuss at the right time. The chairman may have had the opportunity to have had preliminary talks with one or two applicants or with people who have telephoned him.

"The pros and cons of all those considered will be discussed over several days." More than 50 applications were received for the post when the deadline passed last Monday.

But only '15 to 20 serious applications' were considered last night.

Sheffield United assistant Adrian Heath is the current bookies' favourite - quoted at 2-1 today - to step into Jimmy Mullen's chair.

Blackpool boss Sam Allardyce was celebrating his first ever Division Two Manager of the Month award today before the Seasiders clash at Turf Moor.

Allardyce has guided Blackpool to four wins and two draws to secure an automatic promotion berth.

Wigan Athletic's hopes of signing former Burnley stiker Graham Lancashire have been dashed.

The 23-year-old forward - who recently enjoyed a month long spell at Springfield Park - has decided to stay with Preston North End.

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