ANDY PAYTON has left Turf Moor to go on a month's loan to second division Blackpool.

Stan Ternent decided to let the Clarets legend make the switch the day after he was banned from driving for three years and sentenced to community service following a car accident at the weekend.

But the Burnley boss explained: "Andy Payton is going out to Blackpool because I need him to be playing first team football.

"The situation is that I have not been able to start him in matches because the strikers have been in good form over the last few months."

Burnley Magistrates' Court heard this week that Payton has been disciplined by the club following his latest court appearance but despite the loan switch he will not be able to play for the Seasiders against Rochdale in the FA Cup tomorrow.

Ternent explained: "For clearance in the FA Cup you have to have seven days notice and this has only just happened."

Blackpool boss Steve McMahon had to act swiftly following the £1.75million sale of former Accrington Stanley striker Brett Ormerod to Southampton this week and he clearly believes 34-year-old Payton can still score goals at second division level.

Payton is a firm favourite with the fans at Turf Moor, a local lad who finally returned to the club he loved after being rejected as a young player.

He has admitted to sobbing his eyes out when John Bond let him go in the 80s but he went on to show what he can do in a career that has seen him pass two milestones this season, 500 league appearances and 200 league goals.

He has scored for Hull, Middlesbrough, Celtic, Barnsley, Huddersfield and the Clarets where his goals first kept Burnley in the second division and then fired them to promotion.

Four goals this season, three from the penalty spot, have all been scored after coming on as a substitute as he has failed to dislodge first choice strikers Gareth Taylor and Ian Moore.

Even at Crystal Palace last weekend, when the Wales international was suspended, he had to make do with a place on the bench and when Ternent did make a change it was Tony Ellis who was a late sub.

Payton has barely featured in the reserves this season and he is the second Burnley player to go on loan in the past week, Paul Cook having made the switch to Wigan Athletic.