Special report by Tony Dewhurst

TONY Parks was sitting at home thumbing through the Blackpool directory for the dole officer number when the telephone rang.

In a varied career that had taken the goalkeeper from a 17-year-old debut at Tottenham Hotspur and a penalty save in the 1984 UEFA Cup final to four seasons in the Scottish Premier League with Falkirk, Parks was facing unemployment.

On the other end of the line was Glenn Roeder. The Clarets number two was offering Parks a trial at Turf Moor.

"For the first time ever I hadn't got a club and I was all ready to sign on the dole and join the queue," he recalled.

"Glenn phoned me on the Monday morning and I was due to sign on the dole in Blackpool on the Wednesday.

"That was the reality. 48 hours later and I would have been one of the unemployed. I can't say how grateful I was for that telephone call from Burnley.

"I really owe Glenn Roeder and Chris Waddle one for giving me that chance.

"I knew there were over 600 players released last summer - including 90 goalkeepers - so it was going to be difficult to get fixed up after Blackpool had given me a free transfer."

It is no accident that first choice Marlon Beresford has had his most accomplished start to a campaign with Parks and goalkeeping coach Chris Woods breathing down his neck. And while Beresford will pick up the jersey for tomorrow's capital clash at Brentford, Parks, who had three season at Griffin Park from 1988 to 1991, said: "We are both after his shirt and Marlon knows it.

"Marlon is playing with a hell of a lot of confidence and, quite rightly, he is Burnley's first choice. Outside the Premiership I would rate Marlon and Steve Banks (Blackpool) as the two best goalkeepers in the Nationwide League.

"He has set a fantastic standard this season, but both Chris and I want first team football and we will keep pushing Marlon as hard as we possibly can.

"I'm very interested in the coaching side of things and I like to think I can offer Marlon help and experience.

"Marlon is a level-headed and a nice guy, but you never stop learning in football.

"I can recall my experience at Tottenham when we won the UEFA Cup in 1984 and I saved the penalty against Anderlecht.

"I'm proud of that but I'd be first to admit that I probably lost my way a bit after that. Looking back, I probably couldn't handle the lifestyle.

"I was only young and I was playing for a massive club in London. At that age you are quite impressionable and pretty vulnerable.

"For a start I had far too much money for a 21-year-old and that can bring its own problems.

"But I have drawn from those experiences and that can benefit other people. "Things have changed so much for young footballers now because people try and make sure they get the right advice.

"Look at the way Alex Ferguson handles David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.

"He protects them from the constant attention. If it is not right for either Manchester United or the player then Ferguson will say so."

Parks remains on a week-to-week contract at Turf Moor, but the 34-year-old is hoping to secure a more permanent deal with the Clarets.

He has yet to make his senior debut, spending his time with the A team and the reserves.

"You don't need a lot of motivation when you are on a week to week contract," he added.

"You are conscious that with one bad performance then that you could be your lot.

"It is a tightrope situation and that always keeps me on my toes.

"I would love to get offered something permanent by Burnley because I love the feel of the club.

"I still feel I've a lot to offer and I would like to think that could be with Burnley.

"When I first walked into Turf Moor I had to pinch myself because this is a Premiership club stuck in the Second Division.

"The fans are passionate, the club has tradition and everything is geared for success. "It just needs somebody to kick-start it into life and I hope Chris Waddle and Glenn Roeder can be the men to do just that."

Brentford have made an unspectacular start to the Second Division season after a change in management over the summer.

David Webb was appointed chief executive with Eddie May and Clive Walker moving in as the new management partnership.

After last season's play-off disappointment, when Brentford lost to Crewe in the Wembley final after leading the Second Division for several months, gates have dropped dramatically after the sale of their top stars.

Carl Asaba led the way with an £800,000 move to Reading while Paul Smith (£195,000), Barry Ashby (£140,000) and Brian Statham (£70,000) all joined Gillingham.

Brentford have replaced them with several signings from non-League football, including Paul Barrowcliff from Stevenage Borough and Derek Bryan from Hampton.

Burnley will have to keep an eye on striker Bob Taylor. He is currently the joint leading goalscorer in the Second Division.

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