Clarets manager Stan Ternent has broken his silence on the shock departure of Paul Cook last week.

The absence of the midfielder from the squad that travelled to Crystal Palace last week has been the talk of the town.

Ternent, yesterday crowned Nationwide Division One manager of the month, explained: "Paul Cook has joined Wigan Athletic on a month's loan and the reason for that is he needs a new contract.

"At the moment, I am not in a position to do that. I will have a look at it after a month."

Cook's contract at Turf Moor is set to expire at the end of this season and at 34 his playing career is drawing to a close.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell confirmed at the weekend that the deal is initially a month long loan and it will be down to both clubs and the player to sort out what will happen in the future.

But while Burnley fans may have been bemused by the sudden exit of Cook there has also been a willingness to accept that the manager knows what he is doing.

Yesterday's award for Ternent was announced with the Clarets heading the race for the Premier League, a remarkable turnaround for a club that was in the doldrums when he took over just three and a half years ago.

And he received immediate vindication for his decision to allow Cook to play for Wigan at the weekend with the 2-1 win at Selhurst Park that sent Burnley back to the top of the table.

Ternent has been eager to dampen down the rumours surrounding the possible departure of skipper Steve Davis to Manchester City and the arrival of Jason Koumas and David Ginola.

Like Cook, Davis is out of contract in the summer but the 33-year-old has been the key on field figure in the turnaround of fortunes at Turf Moor.

Davis has been struggling with a knee injury for several weeks and at present Ian Cox and Arthur Gnohere are in great form at the heart of defence.

But having spoken at the weekend about the need to strengthen his squad for the battles that are ahead, it is unlikely that Ternent would want to sell such a key player to a promotion rival.

Ternent has already been shopping at Maine Road himself this season and Tony Grant has impressed in midfield since his switch from Manchester City, only once tasting defeat in a match he has started.

Both Kevin Horlock and Paul Dickov have been suggested as possible makeweights in any deal for Davis but the suggestion appears fanciful.

As for Ginola and Koumas, rumours continue to circulate that they are on the verge of a move to Turf Moor but Ternent insists they are no more than that, rumours.

And Koumas's club Tranmere Rovers was unwilling to comment today on the latest bout of speculation involving their star midfielder who has already been linked with a move to any number of clubs this season.

Meanwhile Clarets chairman Barry Kilby has hailed Ternent's achievement in being named manager of the month and he hopes that the timing of the announcement will help the club avoid the award's infamous hoodoo.

"We have already played and won once in December so hopefully the jinx that normally hits manager's when they win the award won't happen," he joked.