GLEN Little's future remains in the balance after Preston joined Reading in revealing an interest in the Burnley wide man.

However, North End boss Craig Brown has ruled out a summer swoop for wing wizard Little after baulking at the player's earnings.

Little, who has just one year remaining on his current contract, is known to be the biggest wage earner still at Turf Moor following manager Stan Ternent's summer cull.

And, encapsulating the fear spreading like wildfire among cash-strapped Nationwide League clubs, Brown is refusing to smash the Lilywhites' watertight wage structure to snap up the mercurial winger.

Brown, one of Little's biggest admirers, said: "There is no disputing the capabilities and excellent performances we've seen, on occasion, from Glen Little.

"He's a fine, fine player and the year before last, many authorities considered him to be the best player in the first division.

"He would be a good acquisition, but to pay his wage would alienate the rest of the staff and although we would love him, he is out of our reach at the moment.

"He has another year on his contract and he is not going to come to Deepdale for less money."

Preston are one of perhaps only a handful of first division clubs who could afford to make a move for Little following the implosion of players' wage demands.

The Clarets' Lancashire rivals are still sitting on the best part of £8m earned from the sales of Jon Macken and Sean Gregan and a compensation package from Everton after the Merseyside giants poached former manager David Moyes.

However, I understand striker David Healy - a £1.5m signing from Manchester United in 2000 - will remain the highest wage earner at Deepdale for some time yet as the belt strings continue to tighten.

North End's reluctance to splash out surely therefore increases the chances of Little starting the season back at Burnley, where he insists he is happy.

Only last week, the former Glentoran ace reiterated his desire to remain at Turf Moor despite the growing clamour for his signature.

Reading boss Alan Pardew is another admirer keen to sign Little on a permanent basis following his end-of-season loan spell at the Madejski Stadium.

But, like Preston counterpart Brown, wages look like being the stumbling block for any move to lure London-born Little back down south.

Former Burnley midfielder Paul Gascoigne is reportedly considering a move to join second division Stockport next season.

The 36-year-old legend is "depressed" following a brief spell with Chinese outfit Gansu Tianma and wants to resurrect his career back home.