BURNLEY'S young guns are being encouraged to follow in the footsteps of Richard Chaplow next season.
Cash-strapped Clarets boss Stan Ternent knows life could be tough in the transfer market again this summer as the club looks to stabilise financially.
That makes the emergence of young talent such as Chaplow an even bigger priority. The Accrington-born teenager has enjoyed a staggering first full season in Ternent's plans, rising from bit-part player to make 32 starts and become one of the first names on the team sheet.
And youth team boss Terry Pashley now wants the next generation to take their game to another level and give Ternent further options.
Pashley, whose youth team narrowly lost the Lancashire FA Youth Cup final to Oldham on Monday night, said: "We are coming to the end of the season now and many of my lads have had a tough campaign.
"But the likes of Ryan Townsend, Marc Pugh, Neal Trotman, Tom Ince and others need to be looking to take things on now.
"They have played a lot of football and next season they will come back stronger and have to push on.
"They have seen the likes of Richard Chaplow come through the ranks and he has to be an inspiration for them."
Pashley added: "Sometimes you need a crystal ball because all we have at the moment is potential.
"Richard always had that potential and now he is fulfilling what we all saw in him.
"We are all hoping that's what some of the others can do. The way the game is going, bringing your own players through is massively important and hopefully we are on the right lines."
Townsend, who made his first team bow at Coventry last month, and fellow central defender Trotman, still only 16, were both hugely impressive in Monday's 2-0 defeat to Oldham's youngsters.
And wide men Pugh and Tom Ince also caught the eye as the future of the club suffered cup heartache in extra time.
Pashley added: "The lads were very disappointed after the game, but that is part of the growing up process.
"I told them after that if they are lucky enough to make a career out of the game, there will be other disappointments along the way. It's all about how you deal with them."
Meanwhile, Ronnie Moore is demanding a win against Burnley this weekend to ensure Rotherham survive in Division One.
The Clarets still need one more point to assure themselves of First Division football next season.
The Millers, meanwhile, must travel to relegation-haunted Walsall on the last day of the season and boss Moore, father of Clarets striker Ian, is fearful of a nervy, winner-takes-all clash at the Bescot Stadium on May 9. He said: "I don't want to be going to Walsall on the last day - even to defend a scoreline.
"Let's hope it can be sorted on Saturday in front of a full house. Anything is possible in football and our best bet is to go and beat Burnley and I'll be happy with that.
"I always thought 50 points would be enough, but here we are on 51 with two games to play and we're still not safe."
Burnley reserves entertain Stoke City tonight in their penultimate Pontins League game of the season. Kick off at Turf Moor is 7pm.
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