ASSISTANT Bolton boss Phil Brown could emerge as a surprise candidate for the vacant Burnley manager's job.

I understand former Trotters skipper Brown is being seriously considered for the post along with a host of more established managers.

And Sam Allardyce's trusty right-hand man will soon discover whether he is to be interviewed for the post.

Brown, who played 350 times for Bolton, has accrued only a handful of games as a caretaker manager with Wanderers - a fact that sits awkwardly alongside Burnley chairman Barry Kilby's recent comments that a rookie boss was unlikely to be appointed as Stan Ternent's successor.

But I understand the Burnley board may have been swayed by Brown's enviable record behind the scenes.

The highly-respected 44-year-old, a keen student of the game, has joined the ranks of the most qualified coaches in Europe having gained his pro-licence.

Brown has also made no secret of the fact he would like to step up to management one day.

Last season he said: "I will know when the time is right.

"Sam Allardyce would like to give me the wings to fly and then let me go, like all good managers who like to fashion their proteges into a likeness of themselves."

The Allardyce-Brown partnership first came together at Blackpool in the mid 1990s, where they were unceremoniously sacked after steering the Seasiders to the promotion play-offs

They became rivals in 1999 when they both threw their hats into the ring for the manager's job at Bolton following Colin Todd's departure.

Brown, who took over from Todd for five games as caretaker - winning four and losing one - had been Allardyce's first team coach but fancied the job himself.

However, Allardyce, who had failed in four previous attempts to managed the team he played for with distinction, finally landed his dream job and duly appointed Brown as his assistant.

Since then, Bolton have been transformed from a struggling Division One side to Premiership high-flyers, now fully established as a top-flight force.

It is that fact that has persuaded Burnley they too can become a force again if they adopt Bolton as a role model.

Brown is now set to join Ronnie Moore, Brian Flynn, Steve McMahon, Steve Cotterill and Colin Lee in the race to become the new Clarets boss.

However, I understand speculation linking former Coventry chief Eric Black with the vacancy is wide of the mark.