GLEN Little bowed out of Burnley thanking the fans for eight years of great memories.

The winger scored on his final game for the Clarets before joining Reading this summer on a free transfer.

And Little's only regret was that the goal did not earn a victory to cap an emotional day at Turf Moor.

He said: "The fans here have been great to me in eight years.

"They've always supported me right from the start. I've had a great relationship with them and I'll miss it.

"I did get a bit emotional at the end of the game. I never thought I would but then you see everyone and it was a special day for me.

"After eight years here I've got a lot of great memories. It's a shame it's come to an end but I think that maybe it's for the best.

"We wanted to go out with a win and it looked like the dream start and everything was going well.

"I'm pleased to have scored in my last game, but I was really hoping to win the game and go out on a high.

"It's just a shame it ended in defeat."

Little was made captain for the day by manager Stan Ternent, who also bowed out of management after six years in charge.

And the winger insisted: "It was a lovely gesture by the gaffer to make me captain, and it means a lot.

"I'll always remember that and the support at the end.

"It would be great to see more crowds like that next season and I'm sure the club can move on.

"It's up to someone else now to come in and try to do better and push the team up the league because it would be disappointing to see another relegation battle next season.

"I've seen the hard work that's gone in here over five or six years in getting into the First Division and it would be a shame to get back to where we started.

"It's a new challenge for whoever comes in and it will be tough for the new manager.

"I'm not sure, financially, what he'll be able to do and what players he can get in but it's up to those players who come in to do well and get this team pushing back up the league."

Little, who gave Burnley an early lead with a close-range tap-in following neat work from Richard Chaplow, admitted the goal gave him one final rush.

But he is now focusing on the new challenge that lies ahead of him at Reading.

He said: "It's a brand new start for me and a new challenge. This season has been a real struggle and I think that, even yesterday, you could see we looked like a team that's had a real, hard slog.

"A few players looked tired but we're just happy that we've stayed up.

"That was what we've been looking at for the last four or five months and, while I wouldn't say it's a successful season, we've come through."