WHEN Jimmy Mullen was sacked as manager of Burnley Football Club in the second week of February, it sparked a managerial free-for-all to land the coveted Turf Moor post.
Every name from Adrian Heath (pictured) and Mike Walker to Martin Dobson and Trevor Steven landed in the frame as the Clarets' board of directors sifted through 50 applications.
And today, after a frantic 48-hours of interviewing and deliberating, Burnley named Adrian Heath to succeed Jimmy Mullen and to lead the club towards the year 2000.
His first task will be to arrest Burnley from their current Second Division slide and prepare the Clarets for a demanding 16-game finale.
The Clarets have landed just one League win in 1996. Morale is low. It needs a lift and the board will be hoping that their new man Heath will provide.
The Lancashire Evening Telegraph winds back the clock on a dramatic 25 days at Turf Moor. FEBRUARY 12: Jimmy Mullen's four-year reign at Turf Moor comes to an abrupt end following the 1-0 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra. The weekend is dominated by the mounting speculation over Mullen's future and the 3.33 fans' demonstration against the Turf Moor board of directors.
The Lancashire Evening Telegraph reveals, in a special edition, that Mullen is to leave following an alleged attack on his family outside a Chinese Takeaway.
FEBRUARY 13: Clive Middlemass is named as Burnley caretaker manager with Terry Pashley appointed as his assistant.
Speculation is rife in Burnley as to who will be the man to succeed Mullen. Brian Laws and Adrian Heath are early frontrunners. The post is advertised nationally and Burnley report over 20 applications in the first five days!
FEBRUARY 14: Sheffield Wednesday and England international Chris Waddle is linked with the Turf Moor job after he reportedly said he would like to manage Burnley.
FEBRUARY 15: Former Bolton Wanderers manager Roy McFarland applies for the job.
FEBRUARY 17: Mike Walker makes an early bid for the post. The former Norwich City and Everton boss tells the Evening Telegraph: "If the Burnley board are ambitious then they'll come and get me."
FEBRUARY 18: Clive Middlemass begins his spell as Turf Moor caretaker manager. Burnley turn in a disappointing 3-3 draw against relegation strugglers York City. The Clarets hit back three times to secure a point after York snatch a 2-0 lead.
FEBRUARY 19: Grimsby Town player/manager Brian Laws rules himself out of the running after speculation that he is the man.
FEBRUARY 21: Glasgow Rangers' England international Trevor Steven is another shock candidate as speculation increases.
FEBRUARY 22: Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland legend Sammy McIlroy enters the race and declares: "I have to say that I would be very interested in the job."
FEBRUARY 24: Burnley collapse to a devastating defeat at Hull City - the poorest Clarets' performance of the season. Hull, without a league win at Boothferry Park since August, win 3-0.
FEBRUARY 25: Steve Coppell eyes the Clarets' hot-seat and Burnley hold preliminary talks with the former England man.
FEBRUARY 26: Brian Flynn remains the first choice of the Burnley board of directors. The closing date expires with over 50 applicants having applied for the job.
FEBRUARY 27: Former Chester and Wigan Athletic boss Graham Barrow emerges as a dark horse for the post and tells the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "It would be my greatest challenge."
MARCH 1: Adrian Heath is installed as the number one choice after Wrexham manager Brian Flynn puts pen to paper on a four-year contract at the Racecourse.
Burnley's board of directors meet to thrash out a short-list for the Turf Moor job.
MARCH 2: Burnley crash to another defeat in the Lancashire derby against Blackpool at Turf Moor. Andy Preece nets a second half winner to hand the Seasiders' the points.
MARCH 4: Burnley begin to interview their potential candidates. Turf Moor legend Martin Dobson, Graham Barrow, Mick Buxton and Sheffield United assistant Adrian Heath are all interviewed.
MARCH 7: The waiting is over. Burnley appoint Adrian Heath ias the new Turf Moor boss.
ADRIAN HEATH FACTFILE:
AGE: 35
BIRTHPLACE: Newcastle-under-Lyne
HEIGHT: 5' 6"
CAREER:
1979 Stoke City
Jan 1982 Moved to Everton £700,000
Nov 1988 Moved to Espanol £600,000
Aug 1989 Moved to Aston Villa £360,000
Feb 1990 Moved to Man City £300,000
Mar 1992 Moved to Stoke £50,000
Aug 1992 Move to Burnley free
Dec 1995 Moved to Sheff United as assistant
HONOURS
Division One: 1985, 1987
FA Cup: 1984
Charity Shield: 1984, 85, 86, 87
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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