STAN Ternent could yet determine the fate of some of Burnley's out of contract stars.

Clarets chairman Barry Kilby knows he faces a tricky decision on whether to offer six players new deals for next season without his choice of a new manager in situ.

Defensive stalwart David May and centre back partner Mark McGregor, long-serving duo Paul Weller and Dean West and youngsters Joel Pilkington, Matt O'Neill all see their present contracts expire this summer.

And in a bizarre last act, axed manager Ternent may be asked to advise his chairman on who the club should retain and release.

Kilby said: "There are players' contracts coming up and some have been asking who will be retained.

"If you are retaining somebody, you have to inform them by the third Saturday in May, otherwise they are free to go.

"It is difficult because that would have been Stan's decision and now it should be the new manager.

"But clearly there isn't one in place, so I will take Stan's advice a little because we have been talking about certain players.

"All we can do is get back to these players as soon as we can, but we do know there is a danger someone could nip in and take them if we don't give them a definite answer by that third Saturday in May.

"It will be a fine judgement."

Kilby scotched suggestions of opportunism before showing Ternent the door following Sunday's final First Division match of the season against Sunderland.

He added: "Stan has told me he will hand this club over in the best possible shape, so it's not a desertion in any way.

"We have responsible people in charge of this football club and we will make the decisions under the best possible circumstances that we can get."

Meanwhile, Burnley have been told to steer clear of Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore as the search for Ternent's successor begins in earnest.

Millers' owner-in-waiting Neil Freeman, who is expecting to take over the club within the next few days, has made keeping manager Moore at the club a priority.

Freeman, who wants to make Moore a director if he is handed the reigns said: "I want to keep Ronnie at Millmoor and Burnley have been told in no uncertain terms that he's going nowhere!"

Moore himself has admitted there has been no official approach yet from the Clarets.

Elsewhere, former Burnley defender Chris Brass has distanced himself from any return to Turf Moor to take over the managerial hot seat.

York City boss Brass, whose side has suffered relegation to the Conference, said: "I think everybody knows my feelings towards Burnley, but York is now etched into my heart.

"I have still got a job to do here and would never walk out on this club. It's flattering to have my name banded about, but I'm still on a big learning curve and I will be using that to York's advantage."

Brass, 28, added: "I also think it would be far too soon. I have a lot of admiration for Stan Ternent and feel sorry for him.

"I know what he's done at that football club and I would like to turn things around at York City in the same fashion as he has done at Burnley."