MARTIN Smith and Stephen Grant are to be offered short-term contracts at Turf Moor as Stan Ternent sizes them up as potential permanent members of his squad.

The duo have both been involved in the Clarets pre-season preparations and will now be available for selection for Saturday's Second Division opener at Wycombe Wanderers if they agree terms.

"I have got to speak to them to see if they are happy with it or not.

"It will give me more time to look at them and if they accept that will be smashing and if they don't that will be that," said Burnley boss Ternent.

Former Stockport striker Grant linked up with Burnley early in their pre-season programme and has done enough to earn a longer chance to impress.

Left-sided midfielder Smith boasts an impressive pedigree, having spent his career to date with Sunderland, where he rejected a new deal at the end of last season.

However, he has been with Burnley for just over a week after turning down offers from Ipswich and QPR.

And while Ternent gave the 24-year-old a run-out against Rochdale and Carlisle, both parties will be given longer to assess the suitability of a permanent move, if, as seems likely, Smith opts to stay on for now.

"It gives me a bit more time to see if I like them and if they like Burnley.

"If I sign them on a longer term contract at the moment and there was a problem for either one of us it would be harder to get out of it," Ternent added. Signing the pair would give Ternent a strong hand going into the new season.

And with the games coming thick and fast in the first few weeks, they may have a chance to stake a claim even if they aren't included in the 16 on duty at Wycombe, although Smith might be a candidate for a place on the bench.

Meanwhile, Burnley are to receive an extra £60,000 in their levy from the Nationwide League this season.

The League has increased its cash hand-outs to all clubs on a sliding scale and Second Division clubs like the Clarets will now receive £360,000, an extra 20 per cent, from a central fund.

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