BURNLEY'S Carling Cup second round clash with Oldham must be decided, by hook or by crook, tomorrow.

But, either way, David Eyres will walk away from Turf Moor a winner.

The wily winger spent four years with the Clarets in the 90s - his most memorable moment the Fourth Division play-off final win over Stockport County at Wembley in 1994, in which he scored a fantastic solo goal.

After a spell with Preston North End, Eyres was then snapped up by Oldham on a free transfer in 2000, where he stayed until the end of the 2005-06 season.

The amiable scouser has special memories of his time at both Turf Moor and Boundary Park, which is why it would be impossible to prise him off the fence when it comes to predicting a winner tonight.

"Both clubs have played a major part in my career," he said. "Both clubs are close to my heart so I wouldn't like to predict a score.

"I'm just looking forward to the game.

"When the draw was made, I was wishing I was still at Oldham because it would have been lovely to have gone back as a player again.

"I was fortunate enough to play there at Graham Branch's testimonial at the end of last season but to play in a competitive game would have been brilliant.

"Obviously with it being a cup match there has to be a winner. It has to be decided.

"Whoever wins, plays the better football and deserves to win on the night, so be it.

"Whoever wins, I've won. But at the same time, whoever loses, I'll be feeling for them."

Although Eyres' professional playing career is now behind him, he will get to walk out onto the pitch tonight after being invited to carry out the half-time draw. He is sure to get a standing ovation from all corners of Turf Moor.

And he admitted, whatever the occasion, it's a ground he always relishes returning to.

"I go to games because I look after a couple of players who play for clubs that Burnley come up against," said Eyres, who now works as an agent, for Stellar Football.

"If I get a chance to choose a game, more often than not I will come to Burnley.

"It's a great club to come back to. The four years I had there were absolutely fantastic and very special.

"I left Blackpool to join Burnley. In my first season, scoring 29 goals, including one of the ones at Wembley to secure promotion, that was a special season.

"We had a day out at Wembley, and took over London with fantastic support. To score, and the reception afterwards and the bus tour on the Sunday, it was just incredible.

"They were four great years."

So good, in fact, that it hurt him to leave.

"I've got nothing but happy memories. The only disappointment was the fact that I had to leave the club when I was sold on to Preston," he admitted.

"It worked out well in the end, but it took a while for me to get over leaving Burnley."

His spell with Oldham came to an equally disappointing conclusion. More so, perhaps, because his departure ultimately prompted the end of his professional career.

"It had to come to an end sometime," he reflects.

Although, he didn't say c'est tout' to football altogether. Eyres, who didn't make the breakthrough to professional level until he was 25 after being signed by Blackpool from Rhyl, went back to his non-league roots, first signing for Hyde United and then for Mossley.

Reluctantly, Eyres has finally hung up his boots at the tender age of 43.

"I still felt I had a lot to offer, both on and off the pitch," said the Liverpudlian, who for a period after Iain Dowie quit as Oldham manager in the 2003-04 season took joint charge as caretaker-manager with current Latics boss John Sheridan, before the appointment of Ronnie Moore.

Eyres subsequently signed two more contracts, tying him to the club until the summer of 2006. He had turned 42 in the February of that year, but the birthday present he longed for - a new deal - was not forthcoming.

"I felt I could have gone on for another year, but I was released, and it was disappointing because a couple of weeks after that (Ronnie) lost his job," he said.

"I'm not bitter about it. It's all about opinions in football. I don't bear any grudges. But I was disappointed and disagreed with him for releasing me.

"I had an opportunity to play a year in League Two, but when the opportunity with Stellar Football came up I had to think about the long-term.

"I have a fantastic career to look back on and I've got the games and the goals to go with it," continued Eyres, who made a total of almost 800 league and cup appearances; 213 for the Clarets, scoring 54 goals, and 241 for Oldham, scoring 44 goals.

And the secret to his longeivity?

"I think it's just hunger," he said. "And waking up in the morning realising how bloody lucky I was to get paid for playing football.

"Even when I was 40-41, in pre-season the lads used to think I was some sort of freak because I used to enjoy the feeling of getting fit, and just playing football.

"Who knows, I might have gone on to my 44th birthday.

"I got well paid for doing a job I loved. It's just a pity I didn't play in the Premiership and earn the really big money!"

One veteran who has, and is still playing in the Championship today, is Teddy Sheringham.

Two years Eyres' junior at 41, the former Spurs, Manchester United and West Ham striker is still banging in the goals for Colchester United, where Burnley travel to at the weekend.

Eyres believes they share the same ethics when it comes to football.

"Teddy Sheringham is a fine example of someone who's earned enough money for the rest of his life to retire, but he's still got a great hunger to continue playing for Colchester," he said.

"No disrespect to them, but they're not the biggest club in the Championship.

"He's been offered the chance to play and I don't think it's a financial thing. He must just love the game and I hope he continues for a while."

Regardless of the outcome of tonight's game, Eyres fully expects both sides to have successful seasons in their respective divisions.

"Steve Cotterill's got a good squad together and it would be nice to see them fighting for a play-off position," he said.

"Oldham, last season, just missed out in the play-offs (to Blackpool). But John Sheridan will be looking to pit their wits against Burnley.

"Obviously, it depends on the fitness of players as to who both managers name in the side, but I would love to see the likes of Ade Akinbiyi get into the side and play regularly because, whenever I've watched him play for Burnley, the 100 per cent work-rate he puts into the game, he deserves more goals, and it would be nice to see him get a break.

"His attitude is different class.

"Also, I came up against Wade Elliott a few times when he was at Bournemouth and I was at Oldham and we had some fair old tussles!

"We're similar in size and stature and we used to kick and niggle at each other.

"He's moved on to another level and I think he can cause a few problems on the night.

"Andy Gray scores the goals but there are a lot of players who don't get the mention they deserve because they do it as a team."