TWO old friends will share a handshake before and after tomorrow's Turf Moor clash - whatever the outcome - and let their teams do the talking for them in between.

Although, to be fair to both Burnley boss Adrian Heath and his Bradford City counterpart Chris Kamara, the "words" aren't quite yet their own.

Heath is only seven games into his Turf Moor reign and, loan men Paul Mahorn and Charlie Bishop excepted, is still trying to lift Burnley into the Second Division comfort zone using resources gathered together by his predecessor Jimmy Mullen.

Likewise, Kamara only took charge of Bradford City at the end of November, when Lennie Lawrence departed Valley Parade.

So, while he has had more time to get his squad to learn a new language, a full-scale restructuring job will take much longer.

The link between the two men is Stoke City, a club they both represented on numerous occasions, though not, ironically, in the same team.

Both living in the area, however, meant they became friends away from the football field and, in contrast, they have clashed many times on the pitch.

Now they find themselves making their management debuts in the same season and division.

"I got to know Chris very well but it was more of a social thing," said Heath. "And although we never actually played together, I have played against him no end of times.

"I am sure Bradford will reflect his attitude to the game tomorrow.

"They will be fully committed and give 100 per cent, he will not be prepared to settle for anything less.

"He took over during the season and I think he's done a good job there."

Kamara will know exactly how Heath is feeling, taking those first few steps on the management ladder.

The Bradford manager's four or five months in the job looks like a marathon stint compared to Heath's four weeks.

And Kamara acknowledged - from his own recent experience - that it takes time to turn things round.

He also believes Heath will eventually succeed.

"It doesn't happen overnight. Adrian Heath has taken over and I am sure he will get it right but it does take time," said Kamara.

"Sometimes when you look at a situation from the outside, you realise it's not quite as easy as it looks, especially when you are taking over someone else's players.

"It takes time to establish your own team with your own players.

"No doubt he will have a lot of sorting out to do in summer."

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