STAN Ternent has considered making an audacious swoop for footballing legend Paul Gascoigne.

Burnley chairman Barry Kilby confirmed this morning: "Paul Gascoigne is one of many options we have been looking at towards the final promotion push.

"There are other irons in the fire and this is just one deal that might or might not come off.

"We would have to have Everton's willingness to do the deal, then it is a case of whether Paul wants to come as well as the financial situation so there are a few hurdles to get over."

Indeed Everton manager Walter Smith has suggested that Gazza will not be going anywhere before the end of the season.

Speaking last night he said: "A number of clubs have enquired about his availability but I promised Paul I would sit down with him at the end of the season and discuss his future. That is what will happen."

The 33-year-old Everton star would become arguably the biggest signing in Burnley's history as Ternent looks to play his joker in the race for promotion.

Any move for the former England star would be similar to the shock swoop that saw Gascoigne's friend and ex-international team mate Ian Wright come to Turf Moor almost exactly two years ago.

The arrival of the striking legend galvanised the club both on and off the pitch and helped them to win promotion from the second division. He scored four times in 15 games although all but four of those were from the bench.

Now Gascoigne is the name in the frame as the Clarets prepare for tonight's match against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.

After tonight there will be just nine games to go that will decide the Clarets fate and Ternent admitted yesterday it will be a "big six weeks".

With Wolves and Manchester City moving clear at the top a play-off place looks to be the main hope and the arrival of the midfield maestro could add much needed craft to the Burnley side.

Burnley have struggled to score goals since the turn of the year, only scoring eight goals in nine league games, and the creative touch of Gascoigne could provide a vital spark.

But the Toffees also have a high pressure programme as the season nears its climax with Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough coming amid a desperate battle against relegation.

Gascoigne has not played since the goalless draw against Crewe at Goodison in the last round of the Cup but Smith might be unwilling to lose a player who, even now, is capable of changing a game with a touch of magic.

Gascoigne has appeared 22 times this season for the Merseyside giants, half of them as a substitute.

Reports from Merseyside this morning suggest that Gascoigne would prefer to fight for his place at Everton for the rest of the season before considering options to move abroad to either the United States of the United Arab Emirates in the summer.