BRUCE Rioch could turn out to be a surprise contender as the race hots up to succeed Chris Waddle as manager of Burnley.

The former Bolton and Arsenal boss is expected to return to management this summer.

He has vast experience and a good track record, despite the problems in his last job as assistant at QPR.

Rioch has previously been linked with a return to Bolton but, with Colin Todd staying in charge at the Reebok, that avenue seems closed.

As Rioch joined Stan Ternent, Dave Merrington, Sammy McIlroy, Sam Allardyce and Neil Warnock on the potential hit list, it has also emerged that Norwich City could prove rivals for another leading candidate - Brian Flynn.

Wrexham boss Flynn is known to have caught the eye of Norwich, who are also looking for a new manager.

Flynn is not due back from an end-of-season trip with his players until tomorrow and has emphatically denied that he has already been to Carrow Road for an interview. But Norwich contacts believe that he stands alongside the likes of Steve Bruce, Dave Watson and Nigel Spackman as a contender for the job.

Flynn's number two is former Norwich - and Burnley - favourite Kevin Reeves.

The Welsh club's chairman is with the staff and players in Majorca so there was no-one available to comment on whether or not Burnley had made an official approach to interview Flynn.

Norwich are not expected to name their new boss for some time yet.

Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce, who has just led Notts County to promotion from Division Three, has signed a new two-year deal at Meadow Lane.

And he said today he had no knowledge of any approach "either official or unofficial" by Burnley, despite speculation to the contrary in the national Press.

But if the Turf Moor job was offered it would surely be a big temptation.

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