Burnley v Chesterfield - Pete Oliver's big match preview

STEVE Blatherwick heads back to Turf Moor tomorrow insisting he feels no bitterness over his departure from Burnley.

Blatherwick was one of the quartet of players transfer-listed by Clarets' boss Stan Ternent five games into the current season.

They were told in no uncertain terms that they had no future at Burnley.

And less than a month later Blatherwick was on his way to Chesterfield in a loan deal that later became a £50,000 transfer.

But despite his much-heralded move to Turf Moor turning sour, Blatherwick harbours no grudges.

"I didn't think I got enough of a chance but I want to make it clear there were no arguments between me and Chris Waddle or me and Stan Ternent.

"Stan wanted his own people in. There is no bitterness and I am looking forward to seeing the lads again."

Blatherwick accepted being dropped and replaced as part-and-parcel of the game, although being frozen out completely didn't go down as well. And the 25-year-old welcomed the chance to make a fresh start at Chesterfield, even though he hasn't been able to command a regular first-team place.

"It was either that or be up at Burnley coming in training every day, Saturday and Sunday, and not playing in the reserves," he said. Blatherwick joined Burnley from Nottingham Forest in a £200,000 deal before the start of last season as Chris Waddle's second biggest signing.

But an injury 10 games into the campaign kept him sidelined for two months and he was never able to command a regular first-team place again.

Blatherwick started this season in tandem with Lee Howey but Ternent was always likely to try and bolster the Clarets' rearguard and a 1-0 home defeat by York City merely brought things to a head.

Happily for the genial Blatherwick, Chesterfield offered an escape route for the benefit of all parties concerned as Ternent brought in Brian Reid and Peter Swan to increase his defensive options.

"It's only 20 minutes away from home and I am enjoying it," added the Nottingham-based player.

"They are all good lads. It's a small club but it's a close-knit club."

And Blatherwick's view of his exit from Turf Moor is reflected in his outlook on life since the birth of his first son, Charlie Thomas, in November.

"You look at things differently. You don't get uptight as much and don't think about things so intensely," he said.

Football remains a serious business, however, and the Spireites boast a useful side. They are currently joint sixth in the Second Division and fresh from successive League wins, including only a second away victory of the season at Reading a fortnight ago. "We are a good side. We aren't the best away from home but that win at Reading helped us a lot.

"But it's going to be a tough game because Burnley have bought two decent players in Steve Davis and Micky Mellon," admitted Blatherwick, who rates Paul Holland and Shane Nicholson particularly highly from within manager John Duncan's squad. Blatherwick's level of involvement remains to be seen, although he is almost certain to be in the 14 as Chesterfield bid to halt Burnley's revival.

He played in Chesterfield's mid-week Auto Windscreens Shield win over Darlington after returning from an injury picked up on Boxing Day when he was operating as a stand-in striker.

And a confrontation against Andy Payton and Andy Cooke - two of only three Burnley players likely to start the game who appeared in Blatherwick's final match for the Clarets - would be a fascinating one. But with Mark Williams set to return from suspension, Blatherwick might be the odd one out at the back unless Duncan plays with three central defenders.

"I will be in with a shout. He has got two centre-halves who he has stuck with for a while and who have played with him for a long time.

"He trusts them and I have got to earn that trust," he added.

"But if I do play I will be up for it. There is no bitterness and I am going up there to enjoy myself, whether I get stick from the crowd or not.

"I don't know if I will. I had a good rapport with some of the fans and if I do get stick it will fire me up more."

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