STAN Ternent is sensationally set for a testimonial match at Burnley against Manchester United.

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson has provisionally agreed to bring a side to Turf Moor before next season starts to honour his close friend, who left the Clarets this week after six years as manager.

I believe the terms of Ternent's departure entitle the former Clarets boss to a testimonial, with Ferguson's United the obvious choice.

The two managers are old pals and their close friendship resulted in Lee Roche and loanees Luke Chadwick and Neil Wood all making the switch from Old Trafford to Turf Moor last season.

Last week, Ferguson expressed his surprise at Burnley's decision not to offer Ternent a new deal, despite steering the club to First Division safety on a shoestring budget.

And despite United's busy summer schedule, which includes the Old Trafford-based Vodafone Cup and three games in the United States - he is keen to fit a testimonial for Ternent into his pre-season plans.

Ferguson said: "My idea at the moment is to play a game on the Friday before the season starts - possibly a testimonial for Stan Ternent.

"Depending on how teams do I could have players getting back very late - and after their 28 day break it could be early August before they are back."

Ternent would surely have to take a back seat in the testimonial in his honour, since a new Burnley manager will be bedded in at Turf Moor.

But a delighted Ternent said: "It's a magnificent gesture. I'm still not sure of the details myself, but I am really hopeful something can be sorted.

"The chairman, Barry Kilby, assured me he is keen to get this on since I qualify for a testimonial, having a 10-year association with Burnley, first as a player and then as manager.

"It's marvellous of Sir Alex to agree to bring a team across, but that's as far as we have got at the moment."

Burnley FC chief executive, Dave Edmundson, added: "This still has to be firmed up by a committee set up by Stan himself and we still have to come up with some dates for a game in which Stan will benefit."

"But I would like to think this is indicative of the way Stan left Burnley. He was not kicked out of the club - his contract was simply not renewed - and this shows the way we have acted to honour him."

The news is sure to come as a shock to Burnley midfielder Paul Weller, whose own testimonial has been in limbo for the past six months.

And Weller, along with five other out-of-contract players, was handed more bad news yesterday following the news that Burnley cannot yet offer them new deals following the announcement of the retained list.

Weller, David May, Dean West, Mark McGregor, Joel Pilkington and Matt O'Neill have, in effect, been told they must await the arrival of a new manager before potential contract extensions can be discussed.

But under Football League rules that makes all six players free agents from this weekend, with their names set to be distributed to every club.