WHEN a manager is enjoying success it is inevitable that his name will be linked with any vacancy that pops up with monotonous regularity throughout the season.

Therefore it will have come as no surprise to Clarets fans that the rumour mill has been suggesting that Stan Ternent is on the list of names wanted by Coventry to replace Gordon Strachan at Highfield Road.

Why wouldn't the Sky Blues be interested in a man with a proven track record and a solid grounding in football management?

And it would be a change from appointing a man like Strachan who, while a brilliant player on the pitch, was a novice in terms of taking charge of a team.

Burnley fans do not need reminding that being a top quality player is not enough to guarantee that a man will become a great manager.

Four years ago Chris Waddle arrived at Turf Moor in a blaze of glory with the result that Burnley did all but drop back down to the bottom division. His departure was the signal for the club to turn to Ternent and they have not looked back since.

Waddle is not the only example of a top class player struggling to impress as a boss. Despite spending a fortune on players Bryan Robson's Riverside reign could hardly be called successful.

Liam Brady's glittering career with Arsenal and Juventus counted for nothing when he took over as manager at Celtic.

Frank Stapleton, Mark Lawrenson, Ray Wilkins, Terry Butcher, Peter Shilton and Joe Jordan all tried and failed as did World Cup winners Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton.

And fans of the clubs who appointed another member of Sir Alf Ramsey's side, Alan Ball, have pitched their hopes considerably lower than the manager's voice.

At the same time three men with lesser playing pedigrees, Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Gerard Houllier have proved that management is a whole different ball game.

Think of the great names of the past. Bill Shankly and Sir Matt Busby only won six international caps between them. Bertie Mee and Bill Nicholson both won the double as managers but neither could be called great players.

The Burnley chairman has insisted that he has not been contacted by the Highfield Road club and with life looking so good at Turf Moor why would the manager want to leave anyway.

But if Clarets keep up their current pace it won't be the first time this season that rival clubs are rumoured to be ready to turn to Ternent.

The hands-off signs might be a permanent fixture outside Turf Moor.