Ternent's goodwill message to new boss Cotterill

STAN Ternent today sent a message of goodwill to new Burnley boss Steve Cotterill.

Former Clarets chief Ternent is still actively seeking new employment after ending his six-year reign last month.

But he took time out of his job-hunting to wish successor Cotterill every success following his Turf Moor appointment.

He said: "Whatever happened, I want Burnley to do well. The club will always be very close to my heart, so I wish Steve all the very best."

Ternent has already been strongly linked with the managerial vacancy at Scottish Premier League outfit Dunfermline.

However, it seems unlikely he will jump at the first opportunity - and may well decide to wait and see what materialises this summer south of the border.

Meanwhile, the Turf Moor revolution has already begun with the expected departures of reserve team manager Ronnie Jepson and first team coach Mick Docherty.

Physio Ian Liversedge has also left the Clarets to take up a similar role at Accrington Stanley.

And Burnley chairman Barry Kilby is urging supporters to breathe more new life into the club by backing new man Cotterill with their wallets.

The Clarets are within a 1,000 sales of reaching their budgeted break-even figure of 8,500 season ticket holders for next season.

The steady flow of customers slowed to a trickle in recent weeks as speculation rumbled on as to who would succeed Ternent as boss.

But with the key appointment of Cotterill finally confirmed, Kilby insists the fans' backing is the next crucial phase of his three-year plan to transform the club's fortunes.

"I really need the fans to get behind us because support is all we need now," insisted Kilby, who yesterday announced the discounted season ticket deal for fans was being reintroduced for one week, starting on Monday.

"We sold Steve the club through its tradition and knowledge of the fans. If we all give him the chance, I am confident we can succeed.

"It is a tough budget, but we have come out of absolute crisis and we are still a little fragile.

"But we will gather strength as we go through the next few years.

"Thankfully, the first plank is almost there with the season ticket sales. We have stopped the rot and now we need the 3,000 paying fans every home game and a commercial side to back everything up."

Kilby expects things to move quickly on the playing side, with Cotterill already homing in on potential targets despite admitting to a smaller budget than the one that forced previous boss Stan Ternent into a cull 12-months ago.

Kilby confirmed: "It is all about looking at the resources and the profiles of players we can attract on a budget, then making the budget work to its best ability and playing all the cards right to give us a fighting chance of ultimately making it into the play-offs and the Premiership."