Cumminga and goings with Stephen Cummings

IN A week in which Burnley took another stride towards securing First Division status, it was perhaps a little ironic that a player who embodies all the virtues that have helped propel the Clarets to their current lofty perch, has been sold.

You always knew what you were going to get with Andy Cooke. Endeavour, passion, commitment. These are the qualities which typified Ternent's teams. And their very essence was distilled in the busy, bustling frame of our former number nine.

Like all players, Cookie had detractors. But they were massively outnumbered by his supporters. The fans loved him because of his attitude and workrate. Andy Payton, by his own admission, will be forever indebted to Cooke for his role as the Padiham Predator's foil. And it is beyond coincidence that he has moved to Stoke where the Director of Football is John Rudge, a vocal and long-time admirer of the player.

Cooke is the victim of an unfortunate set of circumstances. The emergence of the increasingly impressive Graham Branch, the arrival of Ian Moore, the form of Andy Payton and Ternent's search for another striker, possibly Dele Adebola, are all factors which have edged Andy towards the Turf Moor exit door Cooke will always be remembered for his brace of goals against Plymouth which kept us in Division Two on the last day of the debacle that was Chris Waddle's season in charge.

But my personal memory is of a goal he scored at Walsall under Adrian Heath. Forty yards from goal with no options available, he spied the keeper off his line and lifted the ball over him into the net much to the delight of the travelling Clarets.

Magnificent stuff. I feel sure I am not alone in thanking Cookie for the memories and wishing him all the best for his future.

Much better news is the signing of a three-year contract by Stan Ternent.

Under his leadership Burnley have prospered. That the manager has transformed the side from Second Division relegation fodder into one of the top six outfits in the First Division is remarkable.

That he has achieved this in just over two years is a truly breathtaking feat.

Hopefully the club's upward spiral can be carried forward over the next three games.

Consecutive fixtures against Preston, Blackburn and Bolton have been eagerly anticipated since the fixture list was published. Does it get much better than this?