THE Clarets have confirmed that they have agreed a fee with Division One rivals Bradford City for Robbie Blake.

Burnley manager Stan Ternent, who has been tracking the player for some time, has reportedly matched the club's record with a £1million fee.

However, there are expected to be additional payments that would add up to an extra £250,000 if Blake helps the Clarets into the Premiership.

Bradford City Chairman Geoffrey Richmond said: "We will be extremely sorry to lose the services of a very talented player.

"We do not really want to lose him but it has always been the club's policy not to stand in the way of an unhappy player."

Blake, who can operate as a striker or a winger, signed for the Bantams in 1997 from Darlington for £300,000.

He has already bagged a dozen goals for the Bantams this term taking his tally for the Valley Parade club to 42 in a little over four seasons, and he was equally prolific with the Quakers netting 21 times in 68 League outings.

And an additional boost for Ternent is the return to fitness of experienced defender Mitchell Thomas.

The 37-year-old played his first game since September in a Burnley reserves side who were beaten heavily 7-1 by Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground last night.

Thomas managed almost 50 minutes before being brought off while trialist Sergei Kandaurov, the Ukranian international defender, played 90 minutes.

And Kandaurov played his part in Burnley's solitary strike last night linking well with Anthony Shandran who then set up Damien Hindle to score a 24th minute equaliser.

However, Wrexham took the lead before half-time and then the goals rained in during the second half.

Burnley: Cennamo, Leeson, Scott, E Davis, Thomas (Leary 49) Pilkington, Rasmussen, Kandaurov, Shandran, O'Neill (Waine 70) Hindle.