BURNLEY could have a new manager in place within a fortnight.
The club has been sifting through the names in the frame since Chris Waddle's departure and will move swiftly to install their new man in plenty of time to prepare for next season.
"The club would anticipate being in a position to make an appointment within the next 14 days," confirmed director Clive Holt.
And, with Peter Shackleton still promising that the arrival of his takeover cash investment is imminent, that might allow any prospective new owner to figure in the selection process.
The club's bankers, TSB, were involved in discussions with Shackleton and Frank Teasdale last week, having already verified the wealth of Shackleton's backers.
Burnley are believed to have made contact with a number of likely candidates and Stan Ternent is still sure to be near the top of the wanted list.
The Bury boss is back home after an end-of-season break and has figured in talks regarding a return to the club where he started his career. The fact that Ternent is working without a contract at Gigg Lane suggests that there would be little delay in appointing him if he is the chosen man.
That would fit in with Burnley's timescale whereas trying to gain the release of a manager from a current contract would be more time consuming, which could rule out Sam Allardyce and Brian Flynn.
Out-of-work managers in the frame and immediately available include Neil Warnock, Mike Walker and, as of yesterday, Ron Atkinson. Of that trio Warnock would be the most realistic option and the promotion specialist has expressed his desire to take up the Turf Moor challenge.
Other serious contenders include Sammy McIlory and Dave Merrington, the ex-Burnley player who has managed Southampton and who is currently chief scout at Wolves.
It is thought that Merrington would be free to leave Molineux if attracted by another post, while Macclesfield are hardly likely to stand in McIlroy's way if a job of the Burnley stature was to be offered the former Manchester United midfielder.
The list of likely candidates for the Burnley hot seat offers the board the kind of credentials they are looking for as they seek a manager with a proven track record at Football League level.
The fact that chairman Frank Teasdale is currently on holiday will not slow up the process either as Burnley endeavour to have the right man for the job in time to conduct summer transfer business.
One of his first jobs could be to settle the futures of Burnley's out-of-contract players - Paul Weller, Damian Matthew, Gerry Harrison, Mark Winstanley, Jamie Hoyland and Chris Vinnicombe - who will have received their formal contract offers in the post today.
The offers will stand for a minimum of 30 days, after which the new boss will have some idea as to the nucleus of his squad. Two definite departures from Turf Moor are Glenn Roeder and physio Nick Worth, who has joined First Division West Brom.
Assistant manager Roeder had been expected to leave since Waddle's decision to go last Tuesday and an "amicable departure" was confirmed over the weekend.
Worth joined the Clarets from Sheffield Wednesday last summer after showing an interest in the West Brom position.
When the post came up again Worth was the man Dennis Smith turned to and despite Burnley's efforts to keep the highly-rated physio he has opted to move on to the Hawthorns.
Burnley currently have back-up from the sports injuries clinic at the club but will appoint a new phsyio when the manager is in place.
Meanwhile, reserve team boss Gordon Cowans has held talks with Teasdale and is expected to be staying on.
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