STAN Ternent has been sensationally booted out as manager of Burnley Football Club.

His last game in charge of the Clarets will be Sunday's end-of-season clash against Sunderland at Turf Moor.

Chairman Barry Kilby broke the news to Ternent yesterday - just 36 hours after 'celebrating' keeping the Clarets in the First Division and describing the achievement as one of his greatest as a manager.

At a meeting, which it is understood had been arranged to discuss next year's budgets, Kilby told Ternent a decision had been made not to offer him a new contract.

Ternent - who arrived at Turf Moor exactly six years ago - was believed to be shocked and disappointed at what he was told.

He had looked forward to leading the team again next year and had already put plans in place to talk to new players.

The decision not to offer the 57-year-old a new deal appears to have been that of the chairman, as there is no indication any board meeting was held over the weekend.

Ternent's present contract runs out on May 31.

Chief executive Dave Edmundson today issued a statement on behalf of the club.

It read: "Burnley will be looking for another manager next season.

"Manager Stan Ternent met chairman Barry Kilby on Bank Holiday Monday and the decision not to offer a new contract to Stan was taken.

"Stan has done a fantastic job for this club, including a promotion and keeping us in the First Division for five seasons," said Mr. Kilby.

"I'm looking to the long term future of Burnley. With this in mind, managerial changes are inevitable. There can never be a good time and difficult decisions have to be made.

"Stan and I have enjoyed a close working relationship, he has always been passionate about Burnley and has been one of the best Burnley managers of all time.

"I would like to thank him for his devotion and dedication to Burnley and he will always be revered at Turf Moor.

"I sincerely wish him well in his future plans."

Burnley's First Division status was confirmed last Saturday despite losing 3-0 away to Rotherham as Walsall lost at Crystal Palace. The Clarets have one more match left at home to Sunderland next Sunday, when Stan will manage his last game for the Club.

Ternent himself made a brief statement about the decision.

He said: "I did not want to leave Burnley Football Club and I will be making a full statement after next Sunday's game."

It is well documented that Ternent, who first joined the club as a youngster in 1961, has taken pay cuts over the last two years to help ease the Turf Moor club's financial plight.

Even so, it would appear he is the latest victim of the financial restraints at the cash-strapped club.

Last summer, for the same reasons, he was forced to sell or get rid of some of his higher paid players, most notably the sale of fans' favourite Gareth Taylor to Nottingham Forest.

During his six-year stint, Ternent's reign has been punctuated by glory and controversy.

When he joined in 1998 after a highly successful period as Bury manager - where he won back-to-back promotions - the Clarets had just escaped relegation to Division Three under the management team of Chris Waddle and Glenn Roeder.

After a season stabilising the club and with the help of a boardroom takeover by Kilby, Ternent guided Burnley to promotion to Division One in his second year.

In the run in to promotion he pulled off the coup of his reign, signing former Arsenal and England goals legend Ian Wright.

During a push for a play off place to the Premier League two seasons ago he grabbed world headlines again by signing another former England World Cup star Paul Gascoigne.

Ironically, Ternent's last game in charge will now be against Sunderland - the club he supported as a boy.

Kilby was expected to hold a press conference later today.