"SOMETIMES, I despair." So said Stan Ternent yesterday in the fall-out from the unsavoury scenes at Millwall last Saturday. The Burnley manager speaks for every decent thinking Clarets supporter.

It is depressing beyond belief that sickening cries of bigotry such as those visited upon Mo Camara at the New Den are still blighting the beautiful game in 2004.

Heaven alone knows what the Guinea born left back made of it.

Although Camara has declined the opportunity to speak about the incident, both his manager and team-mate Brian Jensen are on record as saying the player was very upset after the game. It is hardly surprising.

Anyone who has followed football for any length of time knows that Millwall had a long-standing problem with racism amongst certain sections of their support.

In fairness to Millwall chairman, Theo Paphitis, he and the powers that be at the New Den have taken steps in recent years to address the issue. Extra stewards and police have been drafted in on matchdays for example.

However, while such initiatives are to be applauded, on Saturday's evidence there is still much work to be done.

Nor does Paphitis do himself any favours when he claims that Stan Ternent's knowledge of the BNP is restricted to what he read "on the back of a cornflakes packet."

Apart from making one wonder exactly what kind of cornflakes find their way onto Mr Paphitis' breakfast table of a morning, his remarks are ill-informed.

If there is one manager in football who knows about the scourge of the BNP it is Ternent who lives in a town where that hateful party have seats on the council.

Nor do the Football Association emerge from this with any credit. They say they will only investigate Saturday's obscenities if a formal complaint is lodged.

Sorry? So despite hearing what Stan Ternent said, the organisation responsible for the game's administration is going to do precisely nothing?

To quote Ternent, "sometimes, I despair."

Meanwhile, back on the football pitch, the Clarets have a tough week ahead.

West Ham will provide a stern examination for David May and Mark McGregor. As well as the pair have been playing recently, a front line boasting such riches as Harewood, Zamora and Connolly will be hard to contain.

And then on Saturday, Craig Brown's faltering Preston roll into town.

North End may have undergone a recent slump in form, but derby games are always different.

A difficult week became even more difficult yesterday with the revelation that Bradley Orr and Paul Rachubka have returned to their respective clubs following their loan spells here.

This leaves Ternent with just 14 fit players at his disposal. A tricky week lies ahead.