Clarets midfield leader Kevin Ball is looking forward to at least another season under the guidance of Stan Ternent after the Burnley boss agreed a new three-year contract at Turf Moor.

Ball's own deal lasts until June, 2002 and Ternent will be in charge for that period and a year beyond after putting pen-to-paper, along with assistant Sam Ellis, over the weekend.

"I just heard the gaffer had signed a new contract and I think credit should be given to Stan," said Ball.

"It was a tremendous achievement last year when he got the boys promoted and this year we've started ever so well as well.

"I think Stan's got a lot of affinity with the club and really does love the place."

Ternent admitted he had considered retiring at the end of the current campaign, having given Burnley a foothold in Division One.

However, the prospect of challenging for a place in the Premiership has persuaded the 54-year-old to carry on.

Ternent said: "It's a great honour to manage Burnley Football Club. I've said that from the word go and I'm delighted that the chairman and the board have faith in me.

"I said when I came that it would be my last job and I was thinking of turning it in in the summer, to be quite honest, once I had established the team in the First Division and seen where we were up to.

"I've got a little grand-daughter now and there are other things in my life but I thought I've got another two-and-a-half years to do and by that time I would hope we'd be knocking on the door perhaps for the Premiership.

"I had a long talk with the chairman and they are very ambitious at the club and I have to have a loyalty to the players who have been fantastic for me and I just decided I would do it."

The Clarets youth team, whose game against Blackpool on Saturday was postponed, launch their FA Youth Cup campaign against Sheffield Wednesday at Turf Moor tonight (kick-off 7.15).