DEAN West looks set to be one of the first names in the frame when Burnley boss Stan Ternent steps up his summer squad strengthening.

The Bury defender is odds-on to leave Gigg Lane after four seasons with the Shakers.

And Ternent may well have pencilled him in as a direct replacement for Ally Pickering, who was released along with 11 other players in the Burnley manager's end-of-season clear-out.

Ternent signed West from Lincoln City early in the 1995/96 season and he didn't miss a game as Bury won back-to-back promotions to climb to the First Division.

Pelvic and groin problems then forced him out of action for 14 months but he made a successful return to action at the back end of the season just finished as Bury fought an unsuccessful fight to beat the drop.

However, the 26-year-old played in midfield as Shakers boss Neil Warnock preferred either Andy Woodward or Chris Billy in the right-back slot.

And despite being made an offer to stay on at Bury, it looks as though West will opt to move on under the Bosman ruling.

That would allow Ternent to be re-united with a player he rates highly and solve a problem on the right-hand side of the Clarets defence.

The Burnley manager is frequently linked with his former players at Gigg Lane. And he is also likely to keep tabs on the situation regarding midfielder Nicky Daws, who formed an impressive pairing with Lenny Johnrose - who made the switch to Burnley in February - during Bury's climb through the divisions under Ternent.

Daws has been offered a lucrative new contract to stay on at Bury but if he opts for a move, Ternent is sure to be interested. And Ternent certainly won't be concerned about adding to the number of ex-Bury players on the staff at Turf Moor.

He already has Johnrose, Gordon Armstrong, Ronnie Jepson and Peter Swan in his squad.

And he regards his former players at Bury as no-risk signings, high-quality performers and proven winners. West would be just one of half-a-dozen new signings that can be expected over the summer as Ternent looks to further develop a squad that would be capable of pushing for promotion.

"I need a stronger squad, which is well documented, for obvious reasons," he said.

"The most important thing is competition for places because it keeps you on toes. We are no different from Manchester United or Arsenal or anybody in that respect.

"The only that might make that difficult is to carry so many players on set budgets."

Ternent will need to be given spending power to carry out his plans after he was hamstrung at the start of last season by a lack of transfer cash.

The situation has been improved, however, by new chairman Barry Kilby who has played a major part in bringing over £3.8 million into the club to service debts and help his manager.

"The chairman has been smashing. I have a budget and that's the way I prefer to work," added Ternent, who also hopes an increase on this season's average league gate of just under 10,600 will also have a healthy spin-off.

"It could well be self-financing. If we get up-and-running and start the season as we finished it, the 10,000 (crowd) could be more, and the more through the turnstiles then the better quality players I can bring in to get the competition," he said.

The Clarets Independent Supporters Club are holding their annual general meeting at the Sparrow Hawk Hotel, Church Street, Burnley next Tuesday night, start 7.30pm.

The Clarets general manager Andrew Watson will also be a guest on the night and will answer questions after the AGM.

Meanwhile CISA officials have met with representatives from Burnley Supporters Club and agreed to meet with the other supporters' groups prior to the next forum with the board to iron out differences between the parties.

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