BRIAN Flynn has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant manager's job at Burnley.

Former Clarets ace Flynn is currently out of work since being sacked by Swansea City in March.

Flynn, who still lives in Burnley, remains close friends with ousted Clarets chief Stan Ternent, who was told on Monday that the club would not be renewing his contract next season.

And while Flynn revealed his own shock at learning of Ternent's sacking, he insisted he was "definitely interested" in becoming the next Burnley manager.

Flynn said: "Stan and I have been good friends for 25 years and I was with him just the other night.

"It was a tremendous shock to learn he had been sacked and I'm shocked for Stan because he has done an amazing job at Burnley and, whoever takes over, he will be a hard act to follow.

"I am definitely interested in the position, but at this stage my thoughts are still with Stan and while he is still doing the job I don't feel it is right to say anything more."

Flynn, 48, has claret and blue blood running through his veins after making over 250 appearances for Burnley in two spells between 1973-77, then again in 1982-84 following five seasons at Leeds.

He earned a career total of 66 Welsh caps - 33 with Burnley - before finally becoming player/manager at Wrexham in February 1988.

Flynn then spent almost 12 years at the Racecourse Ground, winning over a third of his 622 games in charge before ending his association by mutual consent in 2001.

A spell at Swansea followed between September 2002 and his dismissal in March of this year.

Flynn, who was a guest of Ternent on the Clarets' team coach to Rotherham last weekend, added: "I still have a great affinity for Burnley Football Club.

"I still live in the town and I married a Burnley girl, so it is only natural that I would be interested in the position."

Burnley chairman Barry Kilby has already indicated that he wants to appoint a new manager sooner, rather than later.

Profiles of the type of manager being sought have already been drawn up, with the new man likely to be appointed within weeks, rather than months, of Ternent's imminent departure following Saturday's Turf Moor clash with Sunderland.

The final First Division game of the season seems certain to attract the biggest crowd of the season as fans flock to say an emotional farewell to Ternent, who has spent six years in charge.

Supporters should also get the chance to show their appreciation to Clarets winger Glen Little, who will quit Turf Moor for Reading this summer.