STAN Ternent's new-look Burnley side will be given a searching pre-season examination thanks to a prestigious summer fixture line-up compiled by the Clarets boss.

A home game against Second Division play-off champions Manchester City has now been added to the visits of Premiership sides Everton and Sunderland.

The big three will play at Turf Moor in an attractive eight-day spell in the second half of July which is guaranteed to whet the appetite of Clarets fans ahead of the new campaign.

"It's a good pre-season," confirmed Ternent.

"There are two games against Premiership sides and another against a team just promoted to the First Division.

"It might be a little bit expensive for the fans but they won't have to travel to come and watch us. And if I do sign anybody they can come and have a look at what we've got."

City, who clinched their place back in the First Division with a penalty shoot-out victory over Gillingham at Wembley last weekend, will kick-off the Clarets pre-season programme on Saturday, July 17.

Everton visit on Thursday, July 22 and Peter Reid then brings First Division champions Sunderland to take on the Clarets on Sunday, July 25.

Even for pre-season friendly games, all three clubs will bring sizeable travelling support to guarantee a big-match atmopshere inside Turf Moor and some bumper pay-days.

City, Everton and Sunderland will all take a slice of the gate receipts, but the high-profile games will still generate vital revenue for the Clarets and give Ternent's squad ideal pre-season preparation. The projected income should bolster Ternent's transfer fund and the fruits of the manager's labours over the summer are likely to be seen during the three games when he will blood his planned new signings. As well as the three home games, Ternent has also lined up a trip to Third Division Carlisle United on Saturday, July 31 - a week before the 1999/2000 Nationwide League season kicks-off - and will include one more first-team game in his plans.

The pre-season schedule drawn up by Ternent represents a stark contrast to last summer's low-key build-up when Burnley played two non-League sides in Devon and then Halifax, Rochdale and Morecambe nearer home.

Having been appointed in June of last year, Ternent had little time to sort things out. But the calibre of games arranged this time around also reflects the confidence the Burnley boss has in the squad he has assembled and the way he feels his side is going.

In addition, the Clarets reserves will have three warm-up games against non-League opposition.

They visit Conference clubs Northwich Victoria on Thursday, July 15 and Morecambe on Tuesday, July 20.

And on July 29, Burnley will visit the Crown Ground to take on Accrington Stanley.

Burnley's goalkeeping coach Tony Parks has joined Third Division Halifax Town in a one-year part-time deal.

The vastly experienced Parks will coach the keepers at the Shay and also act as cover to the number one brought in by new Town boss Mark Lillis.

Parks, whose playing career with Burnley ended last September with a move to Barrow, finished last season with Scarborough.

And despite being unable to help keep them in the League, the Seasiders were keen to keep him on a non-contract basis.

Former Clarets boss John Benson has been appointed as Wigan's new manager.

Benson, who succeeded John Bond at Turf Moor but was sacked after taking Burnley into the Fourth Division in 1985, replaces Ray Mathias and has been given £3 million to spend.

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