STAN Ternent apologised to Burnley fans after branding some of his players a "disgrace" in Saturday's defeat at Rotherham.

The Clarets chief did not hold back after seeing goals from Martin Butler, Robbie Stockdale and Michael Proctor seal an embarrassingly easy victory for Ronnie Moore's merry Millers.

And Ternent vowed to act after Crystal Palace's victory over Walsall thankfully allayed any fears of his side being dragged back into a final day relegation scrap.

Ternent said: "I would like to first of all start by congratulating the players on maintaining First Division status.

"Secondly, I would like to apologise to the fans for the performance, which was woeful.

"Unfortunately for me, I can't do a lot about it with the players. I can't fine them, though I can bring them in morning, noon and night.

"But some of those players were a disgrace to the claret and blue shirt and rest assured, if I can, I will most certainly do something about it."

Ternent, whose managerial career began at Blackpool back in 1979, added: "I consider it to be one of my best achievements as a football manager to keep Burnley in the First Division."

Rotherham boss Moore, son of injured Clarets striker Ian, had words of consolation for Ternent after both managers shared a drink to toast survival.

Moore said: "Stan is clearly frustrated with the performance and the way Burnley played.

"They are safe anyhow, but sometimes you look at the other side and you have to give us the credit.

"I couldn't ask more in the first half and we knew they would make changes for the second.

"Big Dele Adebola came on and we never really dealt with him the way I would have liked to, but I can't fault the overall team performance because we achieve our objective."

Moore added: "I thought our strikers caused them no end of problems and right from the first minute we were up for it.

"The attitude was magnificent and we could have scored more goals.

"Overall it was a tremendous performance and now we have to go to Walsall now and play and perform.

"We owe that to Gillingham - another side who are down in trouble.

"Walsall obviously need to win the game, but we just have to go there and be nice and professional because I want to finish as high as I can."

Proctor, who sealed victory over the Clarets and sparked a pitch invasion with his cheeky 85th minute penalty, admitted: "It was a bit of showboating.

"I'm not sure I would have tried it if we had needed the goal to stay up, but thankfully the pressure was off by then.

"I think Burnley came here more or less knowing they were safe.

"They certainly didn't come here and lie down, but I think the pressure we put on them from the word go made them sit back a little more to protect what they came with.

"The way we went about the job was first class and we thoroughly deserved the win and to be in the First Division next season alongside them."