Cummings and Goings, with STEVE CUMMINGS

THE end of an era. That's the only way to describe Sunday's emotional post match scenes at Turf Moor, as a cheerful Ternent and a lachrymose Little bade farewell to the Claret and Blue faithful.

History will record Ternent as Burnley's most successful manager since Jimmy Adamson.

In his six years in charge he managed to sort out the mess he inherited, get the club promoted and establish it as a Division One outfit. Not only that, he leaves the club with better players than were there when he first took charge.

For that, he will have the eternal thanks of Clarets everywhere.

That having been said, it has been clear for some time that things were not what they used to be.

For as Stan himself said on Sunday: "The last two years have been less than I would have hoped."

There have been reasons of course and these have been well documented.

But managers have shelf lives at clubs and Stan had come to the end of his.

The Gradis, Curbishleys and Fergusons of football management are few and far between. There can be no doubt which ever club he takes the reins of next will enjoy success. But it was time for a change for all parties.

Thanks also to Glen Little, the best Burnley player this columnist has seen in 29 seasons of watching the Clarets.

Glen may not have been at his best this season, but he leaves a treasure trove of memories; his breath-taking solo strike against Bristol Rovers, his promotion clincher at Scunthorpe and eight seasons of incomparable and truly dazzling wing-wizardry.

There are defenders up and down the country suffering still from the twisted blood he gave them. He will be missed.

And so the search for a new manager is on. The chairman says he has a profile and will try and match that with a number of managers before making the appointment

What kind of manager he is after, only Barry Kilby knows.

It's all a question of ambition. If Kilby is looking for a safe pair of hands who will keep the club in the division then neither Colin Lee nor Ronnie Moore are likely to let him down.

If, however, the chairman has grander schemes, the net will have to be cast wider. Paul Hart has a track record of working with limited funds and bringing on young players at this level, but the compensation payable to Barnsley may prove off-putting.

Or how about Iain Dowie?

Recent reports hinted at family stresses and strains due to the fact that the Palace manager still lives in the north and commutes to London. It may seem unlikely that Dowie would be prised away but if you don't ask, you never know. Enjoy the summer. It's sure to be an interesting one.