DURING a recent phone-in to throw open the book for the next Burnley manager, one supporter had the ideal candidate to replace Stan Ternent.

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri was the name suggested by the knowing Clarets' fan, who saw the flamboyant Italian as the answer to all of Burnley's problems.

Whether he was deadly serious or not, no-one knows but it seems the Burnley board are unlikely to be putting a call into Stamford Bridge this morning.

There are, however, a whole rack of names in the frame to become Burnley Football Club's 20th post-war manager.

Below, Clarets reporter DARREN BENTLEY assesses the likely lads and gives each a rating, based on their likely appointment. . .

RONNIE MOORE

The Rotherham boss is the sixth longest serving manager in the Football League, having been in charge at Millmoor since May 1997. However, he has made no secret of the ambition he wants to manage a bigger club - as was the case when he famously expressed an interest in the Ipswich job in 2002 before it emerged that a call purporting to be from Town chairman David Sheepshanks turned out to be a hoax. The former Tranmere manager has guided the Millers to back-to-back promotions in 2000 and 2001 and would be a popular choice - despite a £150,000 get-out clause in his current contract, which has just 12-months to run.

Rumour rating: 4/5.

STEVE McMAHON

Sent a buzz around Burnley last week after leaving Blackpool and has today indicated he is "desperate" to take over the Turf Moor hot seat. McMahon led Swindon to the Second Division title in his first full season and later guided the Seasiders into Division Two in 2001.

Rumour rating: 3/5

BRYAN ROBSON

Uncertain to be in charge at Bradford next season following relegation in his first season at Valley Parade. The former England captain earlier managed Middlesbrough for seven seasons before leaving in controversial fashion in 2001.

Rumour rating: 1/5

COLIN LEE

Another to throw his hat into the ring soon after Ternent's departure. Lee managed Watford, Wolves and Torquay before becoming Paul Jewell's assistant at Wigan in 2001. Later took over at Walsall from Ray Graydon and was dismissed last month - shortly after the 1-0 home defeat by Burnley - for reportedly showing an interest in the vacant Plymouth manager's job.

Rumour rating: 3/5

BRIAN FLYNN

The fans' favourite to take over according to Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers, who last week awarded him 56 per cent of the vote in a special telephone poll. Former Burnley midfielder Flynn, who still lives in the town and is a close friend of Ternent, managed Wrexham for 12 years and took over at Swansea in September, 2002 - appointing another ex-Claret, Kevin Reeves, as his assistant. He was sacked in May of this year and only last week admitted he would be "definitely interested" in succeeding his old pal at Turf Moor.

Rumour rating: 4/5

ERIC BLACK

Was handed the Coventry manager's job after Gary McAllister stepped down for family reasons in January. Black, who played under Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen in the 1980s, later gained coaching and managerial experience north of the border with Celtic and Motherwell.

His short reign at Highfield Road came to an end last week when he was sacked to allow Peter Reid to take over.

Rumour rating: 2/5

STEVE COTTERILL

The most successful manager in Cheltenham's history - steering the Robins into the Football League - later looked set to transform the fortunes of Stoke before dramatically quitting after only 12 games in charge in October 2002. Many believed he was to be appointed manager at Sunderland, and it was a genuine surprise to see him actually named assistant Black Cats boss to Howard Wilkinson. It was a fairly short-lived experience, however, as the Black Cats suffered relegation five months later. Cotterill has since been working behind the scenes with Micky Adams at Leicester, but is known to be keen to return to management.

Rumour rating: 3/5

JOHN GREGORY

Wise-cracking Gregory has been out of work since being initially suspended, then sacked by Derby County 12 months ago following allegations that were later settled out of court.

Gregory has, nevertheless, an impressive track record in management, having briefly been in charge of Portsmouth and Plymouth before taking over as first team coach at Aston Villa in 1994. He left Villa to become Wycombe boss in 1996 and steered them clear of relegation before returning to Villa Park as manager in 1998. In four years there, Villa never finished outside the top eight and his departure came as a shock to players and fans alike.

Rumour rating: 2/5

SAMMY McILROY

The former Northern Ireland manager returned to club management at Stockport last October after three years in charge of the national side.

The former Manchester United midfielder began his managerial life in non-league circles with Northwich, Ashton and later Macclesfield, who he steered to two Conference titles before ultimately bringing league football to Moss Rose.

Macc won back-to-back promotions, earning Second Division status at the first attempt in 1998.

McIlroy's Northern Ireland reign is best remembered for the minnows' amazing goalless sequence of 13 games, before the Irishman resigned and took charge at Edgeley Park, despite only just having signed a new two-year deal.

Rumour rating: 2/5

Other rank outsiders mentioned to fill the Turf Moor vacancy are: David May, Glenn Hoddle, Gudjon Thordarson, Brian Horton, Trevor Francis, Nicky Law, Mark Wright, Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister, Dave Penney, John Aldridge, Steve Claridge, Stuart Pearce, Alan Buckley and Alastair Campbell!