NEIL Warnock could be a leading contender for the vacant Turf Moor job following Chris Waddle's shock departure but Burnley chairman Frank Teasdale revealed that the applications had already started rolling in.

But there will also be other names much closer to home in the frame again - notably Brian Flynn and Stan Ternent.

Jamie Hoyland today put also himself forward as a surprise contender from the playing ranks but Mr Teasdale believes the job will attract some top names.

"I have already had people on the phone and somebody said to me last night that we would not need to advertise the job," he said.

"I am sure people interested will throw their hat into the ring right away."

Warnock, an expert at taking clubs to promotion before moving on, is available, having recently left Oldham where it seemed the club's ambitions did not match his own.

And he will be eager to get back into football quickly after being strongly linked with the Bradford job.

Flynn's name crops up every time the Burnley job becomes vacant - a fact he acknowledged with a laugh today.

Wrexham chairman Pryce Griffiths is a good friend of Burnley's Frank Teasdale and he said: "I am sure that if Burnley were interested in Brian they would contact me and they haven't done that."

Ternent is another whose name regularly crops up.

He kept Bury in the First Division on a shoestring and is still working without a contract. The temptation to return to Turf Moor would be too great for him to resist if the opportunity was offered.

Former Nottingham Forest and Manchester City boss Frank Clark is presently out of work and he knows the lower divisions as well as the higher ones.

Clark was in charge of Leyton Orient on that fateful day for Burnley back in 1987.

There could be other candidates from within the club as the rest of the staff remains intact - for the moment. Hoyland made his position quite clear.

"I don't know if they have anyone in mind but if it comes to applying for the job, then I will apply," said Hoyland, who has the offer of another playing contract on the table.

"I would love to give it a go and I think I have the respect of most of the lads.

"It's something I have wanted to do."

Once they have had a decent length of time to consider the position, however, the Burnley board might feel they want someone with experience, after almost having their fingers burned last season.

And it would be a major surprise if other backroom boys such as Waddle's assistant Glenn Roeder, reserve team coach Gordon Cowans or goalkeeping coach Chris Woods were handed the reins.

On the contrary, Waddle's departure must cast doubt over their futures with Burnley and Roeder is not expected to apply for the post.

Brian Little would have been an obvious choice but was today confirmed as the new Stoke City boss.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.