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1/2 Ternent says he wants to keep Payton and will ask him what kind of contract he is looking for in the hope of doing a deal. He says he hasn’t yet tabled an offer and wants Payton to spell out what he requires, but he will "move heaven and earth to keep him." Grimsby Reserves 1 Burnley Reserves 1. Ronnie Jepson scores ours, a penalty. Team: Mawson, Weller, Cowan, Brass, Heywood, Jepson, Little, Mellon, Smith, Robertson, Swan (Scott).

2/2 Phyiso Ian Liversedge reckons Lee could be fit for the play-offs, if we make them. Damien Mathew turns his hand to scouting for Wolves.

3/2 The club are said to be set to announce the signing of 28 year-old Bournemouth central defender and Trinidad and Tobagan international Ian Cox. Cox is club captain at Bournemouth, and has enjoyed at least one brilliant game at sweeper against the Clarets. The two clubs are said to have agreed terms, although some early sources suggest that the deal could hinge on Chris Brass going the other way. We are also supposed to be looking for a keeper before deadline day. Meanwhile, Ternent says he considers that we should achieve a top six finish "at worse" and automatic promotion still isn't beyond question.

4/2 Cox signs a three and a half year deal for £500,000. This will ease Bournemouth's debts of over £1,000,000. (Hang on, don't we owe more than that?) There is no player swap for Brass. Ternent reveals that he had enquired a bit back and been rejected, but Bournemouth contacted him recently to tell him that he was available for sale (shades of Steve Davis). He then went to the Board, asked for the money, and was given it. He says he has other targets, who may become available. Although Cox will not be available for selection for Trinidad and Tobago for the rest of this season, Ternent says he will be free to resume his international career once the current campaign is over. Ternent sees him as playing in a central back three. Cox makes all the usual right noises, and says he's looking forward to playing in front on the crowds at Turf Moor as a home player, having experienced them as an away player. His squad number is 32. More on the Ian Cox signing. It is also revealed that a Su'lan' reserve player is training at Burnley: Gerry Harrison. Meanwhile, the Gillingham home match, which was rearranged for 18^th April, but was then moved to 22^nd February because the date was not suitable, has now had to be moved again, due to Gillingham's unlikely involvement in the FA Cup. The new date? Why, 18^th April. Will this farce ever end? Will people who've bought train tickets for the February date be compensated?

5/2 Burnley 1 Bristol Rovers 0. Scorer: Little (69). Team: Crichton, Cox, Thomas, Davis, Armstrong (Branch 22), Little (Mellon 75), Johnrose, Cook (Jepson 80), Mullin, Payton, Cooke. Subs not used: Smith and Weller. Att: 13,526. See our match report for details. Despite Payton being sent off midway through the first half for violent conduct, we beat the league leaders with a magical Glen Little solo goal to seal our eighth successive home win. Little later says it was the best goal he has ever scored, adding, "there was no-one to pass to so I thought I might as well go myself." While both managers refuse to talk about the sending off, Ternent effuses, "It was a sensational goal. He's the only one who can do things like that. It was top-drawer stuff, world-class stuff. It was a magnificent performance from the players and the fans alike. They played their part today. They were fantastic for us. We have this spirit in the club now and if you believe and you stick together, you can move mountains. I'm proud of the players, proud of the supporters and delighted for them. We had to defend, we had a our backs to the wall but Ian Cox, Steve Davis, Mitchell Thomas, Branchy, the whole lot of them, I thought they were fantastic. It's a result against the odds but a goal worthy of winning any match, anywhere." And so say all of us. Payton will now be suspended for the home games against Wigan and Preston and the trip to Colchester, so we may go for someone on loan. Although we stay fifth, results generally go our way, and the gap is closing between us and the top sides. Bury Youth 1 Burnley Youth 0.

7/2 Some dates for the diary: the next football league season will kick off on August 12^th and finish on May 5^th and 6^th. The league cup will start after two Saturdays of the season rather than one.

8/2 Burnley Youth 0 Bury Youth 3. If it’s any consolation, Bury Youth are leading the Youth Alliance North West Conference. Colne Clarets hold a Q&A session with Barry Kilby and Andrew Watson.

9/2 Ternent confirms that Gerry Harrison's trial status means he is eligible to play in two reserve games before we have to decide whether to take him on loan. Geddo is currently short of fitness, having suffered the effects of a virus. Rumour around town is that Cox isn't the end of our spending and more players are coming in, including a striker. Five new scholars are taken on, having progressed through the Centre of Excellence and the Youth Team. They are: Joel Pilkington, a defender from Accrington; John Leary, another defender from Keighley; Liam Eaves, a – guess what? – defender from Blackpool; Brian Fogarty, a – surprise, surprise – defender from Blackburn; and Matthew O'Neill, a – blimey – striker from Clayton-le-Moors. Brian Fogarty is apparently the nephew of world ‘superbike’ champion Carl Fogarty (who?). Two more youngsters, Damian Hindle of Accrington and Paul Barrett of Burnley (both strikers), are still waiting to hear if they will be taken on. Another couple of young ‘uns we’re currently said to be looking at are Andrew Leeson, a full-back from the North East, who had been training with Ipswich, and Peter Clitheroe, a Welsh schoolboy international goalkeeper recently released by Everton.

10/2 Mark Robertson is said to be unhappy and looking to leave. Burnley announce that another 'kid a quid' scheme will operate for the game against Reading on March 18^th, following the successful trial against Scunthorpe earlier in the season.

11/2 Former Claret Roy Stephenson dies age 67, succumbing to stomach cancer. Roy, a winger, was born in 1932 and joined Burnley as a junior from Crook Colliery Welfare in 1949. He played 78 games for Burnley, scoring 27 goals, before moving to Rotherham in 1956. He later played for Leicester and Ipswich, where he won first and second division championship honours as part of Alf Ramsey's pioneering side, settling in the area after his football career. Ternent says we will be going for the win at Bournemouth, admitting that we need to improve the away form if we want to push for automatic promotion.

12/2 Bournemouth 0 Burnley 1. Scorer: Payton (32). Team, unrecognisable from that which got beat 5-0 last season: Crichton, Davis, Thomas, Cox, Little, Branch, Cook (Jepson 67), Mullin (Mellon 55), Johnrose, Cooke, Payton (West 76). Subs not used: Armstrong and Smith. Att: 5,804. See our match report for details. Burnley move to 4^th. With 54 points, this means we are officially safe! The staying up party is duly held. Ian Cox receives a warm welcome back from the Bournemouth supporters, announced last in the team line-ups and cheered onto the pitch. The Bournemouth team also present him with a bunch of flowers before the game. An excellent series of results elsewhere sees Wigan and Millwall both lose and Bristol Rovers draw at home with Scunthorpe. Chants of 'Benson Out' are head at Wigan. Meanwhile, back on the away end of Dean Court, a preposterous rumour circulates that we are about to sign Ian Wright. As if!

14/2 Ian Wright signs for Burnley. The 36 year old joins on a free transfer from Celtic for the rest of the season. As he has stated that he plans to retire at the end of the season, this means he should finish his career at Burnley. Wright started the season for West Ham, but did not feature before joining Nottingham Forest on loan, scoring five goals in ten games, then Celtic on a free, scoring three in ten. First confirmation comes from an official Celtic statement, which reads, "Ian will be joining Burnley until the end of the season. I would like to thank Ian for coming here and giving his all for Celtic. Ian is a very infectious character who contributed a great deal to the dressing room and did his very best when on the pitch. As he intends to retire at the end of the season he had expressed a wish that he would like to play more regularly. Burnley have been able to give him this guarantee. I would like to wish him all the very best for the future and hope he is a tremendous success." More on the Ian Wright signing. Wright has clearly changed his mind since August, when he said, "I've had offers to play in lower leagues, but that is definitely not for me. There is no way I could do what Ian Rush and Peter Beardsley have done by dropping through the ranks. They are two of football's greats and should be remembered for what they are, what they achieved, not as journeymen still part of the football circus. Rushie should have gone out at the top, scoring great goals for Liverpool. Beardo loves the game, but I think people should remember how you were at the top. I'm going out at the top with West Ham." Odd fact spot: Wright's son Shaun made his debut at Turf Moor earlier this season, playing for Man City. Meanwhile, don’t suppose anyone’s interested, but ex-Claret Marlon Beresford has a rare start in goal for BR Middlesbrough, but four are put past him by Aston Villa.

15/2 The club confirm Ian Wright's signing in a press release. Burnley and Ian Wright receive enormous amounts of coverage in the national sporting media, some of it non-patronising. First contact was apparently made through Mitchell Thomas, a close friend of Wright’s, who, when Wright was finding life difficult at Celtic, suggested he join up with Ternent. Ternent is, of course, also an old mate of Wright’s from his time at Crystal Palace. Funny how things work. Negotiations for the deal were concluded by Ray Ingleby. Wright says, "I just said to Mitchell how I was thinking about blowing it all in. Mitchell said let me talk to Stan. Every time I speak to Stan he says when am I coming to Turf Moor. Ray then got involved and the next thing I know, it was happening." He adds, "I've known Stan Ternent since I first turned professional and he has been on at me for years to sign for him so I've finally given in to him. I just hope I can make some kind of contribution to their promotion push but the place has given me a really good feeling. If Burnley can get into the play-offs it means I could finish my career with a play-off final." There's more: "Promotion is what Burnley want and hopefully they will get that with me. I have come to here to score goals and whatever way Stan wants to use me that's fine by me. I scored goals at Celtic, at West Ham and at Nottingham Forest and I'm not going to stop now. I just want to play. It's been well documented that I wanted to finish my career at the top. At the start of the season that's what was going to happen and then when I went to Celtic it still looked like it was going to happen. It didn't work out that way but coming down here is a great move and a great place to end my career. People who know me know I just love to play football. If you are playing for a good team with the fans behind the team that's even better and that's what I've been assured of. Burnley are doing so well in the league and the fans are very passionate. Those are the ingredients I need to be involved with a football club. It's always exciting when you go to a new club. The fans can't wait to see you and hopefully I will be everything they want. It certainly won't be for want of trying. Things are set up for it. It could be a great start for us and hopefully everybody will get behind the lads. I would have given up the game and it would have ended on a sour note which I didn't want to happen. But then I spoke to Mitchell Thomas and he said Stan had always wanted me to come and that's where it really started. I would have liked to have played more games at Celtic but that didn't work out and this is a great opportunity." He adds, "It's a great feeling, I want to keep playing football and Burnley have given me the opportunity to do that. Burnley have always been a massive club. They've been in the lower divisions too long. Whatever I can do to help raise their profile I'll be happy to do. I'm sure that I'll have a great rapport with the supporters. I am here to take Burnley to greater heights. I can be the catalyst that pushes people on. I've come from a huge club, Celtic, and I am delighted to be joining another big club." Writing in his column in The Sun – truly the world has gone mad – Wright adds of his time at Celtic, "I've been slaughtered as some kind of football mercenary and that I was playing up in Scotland just for the money. But that's rubbish and I hope this proves just how much I want to play football because I love the game so much." He goes on, "I felt I was caught up in a war in Kosovo not involved in a football result that wrecked John Barnes' career as Celtic manager. Some so-called fans, a few morons who know nothing better, covered my car in spit, they were shouting obscenities at myself and Regi Blinker. They were screaming at me to get back to London, to clear off out of the place and that I didn't deserve to wear their colours. It was stone age stuff from reptiles." Ever the diplomat. Meanwhile Ternent, having earlier denied Wright was signing, comments, "I'm happy that I've been able to do the deal and I'm happy that Ian feels that he wants to come to Burnley and play for us. He's in the twilight of his career now but he's still a sensational talent. I know Ian from a long time back when I was at Palace. He's a fantastic character, a great personality, and a lot of the players at Burnley will learn a lot from him. I have been on with it for a little while and it has taken a lot of sorting out. I nearly got him when he went to Nottingham Forest." He also says, "Ian has taken a mega drop in salary. He could have sat on his backside at Celtic for twice as much, perhaps more. He isn't coming here for a jolly-up. He's an out-and-out winner who wants to finish his career on a high. And only a club of the stature of Burnley would have been able to persuade him to come. Ian's not what I had at Palace but one thing you never lose is the ability to score goals. And knowing Ian as I do he wants to be first. He's an out-and-out winner. If you get the ball in the box and give him a chance he will stick it away. You don't lose that, it's like riding a bike." Ternent also hopes the other players will learn from Wright, commenting, "The other lads will have a look at him and think, if that's what it takes to be successful, then let's have a go." He adds, "The place has been electric. Everyone is happy that Ian has decided to join. They are exciting times and the supporters deserve a bit of excitement." Barry Kilby hopes this will see an increase in attendances, saying, "We are stepping on the gas to get this promotion. Your guess is as good as mine how many it will put on the gate." Ray Ingleby says, "Ian is thrilled to be able to end his career with Burnley. I have always said that we have to get Burnley as high up the football ladder as possible. I think attracting Ian has increased our stature and credibility in the football world five fold. We have a world class player at a world class club it couldn't be any better." Player reaction also seems to be positive. Steve Davis says, "I am absolutely delighted. It's a great signing for the club and for the supporters. It shows them what the club are aiming to do. It gives everyone a massive boost. It's brilliant. He's done untold things in his career and you can only learn when you train with players like that. I am sure he's going to do well and give everyone a lift. "He's a bubbly character and will be great to have at the club. I think it's been well documented that we have been after a forward but never in your wildest dreams would you imagine we would get Ian Wright at the club and it's all credit to the board and the manager. It's a great boost for everyone and it's going to put the club on the map." His striking partner for Saturday Andy Cooke adds, "Wright's move is something for all the fans and the district to look forward to. It's a great boost for the whole club, not just the players and management." Jimmy McIlroy describes the move as "a big gamble." Burnley goes Ian Wright crazy and the phone for the ticket office is permanently engaged, with over 3,000 tickets sold in a few hours. The Bob Lord Stand is already sold out and the Jimmy McIlroy Beehole Stand is close to it. The trip to Colchester is also instantly made all-ticket for home and away fans. Wright’s squad number is confirmed as 33, and the club immediately sell over 100 shirts with it on the back. Scarves, T-shirts and giant hands will all be in the shop before the end of the week. One fly in the ointment is that Wright still faces a suspension and possible swingeing punishments relating to a misconduct charge picked up in his time at Celtic. In a game against Kilmarnock in January, Wright was alleged to have pushed Willie Young, the fourth official, in the tunnel, and received a red card. If found guilty, Wright would be banned, and it’s thought that the ban would still apply in England. Andy Mitchell, Head of Media Relations at the Scottish Football Association confirms this, stating, "Part of his clearance certificate to join Burnley will be that any outstanding disciplinary action will remain against him. He may still be required to attend a hearing and, if he has to serve any suspension, the Scottish FA will notify the English FA accordingly. Normal practice is that any ban will still apply." The case of Duncan Ferguson is cited as one example. There’s a fear that Wright could be made an example of, given that he also sounded off about it in his Sun column. The hearing takes place on 20th March. Meanwhile, reaching a new level of anticlimax, the reserve match at home to Lincoln is postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Gerry Harrison had been scheduled to play.

16/2 The signing is officially announced at a press conference and photo call, covered live on Sky, where Wright chooses to take the opportunity in front of the eyes of the world to do his Stan Ternent impersonation. A couple of hundred supporters turn up to get their first glimpse. Having paid his first visit to Turf Moor, Wright comments, "The stadium is excellent. I am very, very impressed with the place. Obviously Stan's got a really good team and I don't think there's any other Second Division club I would come to. They say they're pleased to have me but I'm very pleased with the opportunity to be here. There are people standing out there in the rain. It's fantastic and I'm looking forward to Saturday. The fans are fervent and Ian Wright needs that. I'm a fans' man and I need that rapport with the fans. I am always raring to go to play football. I am always raring to train and I'm always trying to answer challenges and this is another challenge for me. And I'm quite confident that I will do well here." He then heads back to London. It's confirmed at the press conference that Wright will be given time to undertake his media work. Ternent seems to think that’s a small price to pay, saying, "We have to fit in with other commitments but I'm happy to do that. All I want is 17 one-and-a-half hours from him." Ticket sales are still through the roof. New PR Manager Danny Reuben comments, "Tuesday is normally a quiet day but it was incredible yesterday. It was non-stop. It's beyond our wildest dreams. The signing has whipped up the town and gripped East Lancashire. There's going to be a great atmosphere and he will probably get the best reception he's ever had." He adds, "The whole town has got the Ian Wright bug. Everyone is talking about the signing and it has put Burnley on the map. The ticket office has dealt with over 6,500 enquiries in 24 hours and the queues have been 500 metres long at times." Ray Ingleby says the signing should be self-financing. He says, "I believe it will be self-liquidating and probably more important is the publicity this club will get and has already started to get. I have no doubt and even if not, the world-wide exposure this has given us is priceless. When I originally invested in this club and joined the board about a year ago I said that my goal, and Barry Kilby's, was to-establish Burnley Football Club to its rightful place as one of the best clubs in England and I think that what we are about to see shows that we means business here. I said that we want to take this club back where it should be, which is the top flight of football. And what better opportunity could you have to get a great player. We needed a striker, especially with Andy Payton out, and Ian Wright will score goals for us. I think Saturday will be one of the best days Turf Moor has seen in many years." The first of a number of daft rumours to come in the wake of the Wright transfer has it that Paul Gascoigne will be joining us! There's not a shred of truth in it, its origins being in a journalistic set up question ("Ian, do you think Gazza should come to Turf Moor?" "Yeah, it's be great to play alongside him if he did.") It’s revealed that entry to the Cricket Field Stand will still be pay on the day for Wigan supporters, Wigan having turned down a second request from Burnley to make the game all-ticket. After the mess they made of our game there, are they football’s least competent club? The club is apparently unable to divide the Cricket Field Stand because there is only one set of turnstiles, and to do so would invalidate the club's safety certificate. The police will not give permission. Non-Wright news: the club are said to have been watching Terry Cooke, transfer-listed by Man City, but Wigan are favourites to sign, and he picked up an ankle injury in a recent reserve match anyway.

17/2 Saturday’s game is now confirmed to be sold out for home supporters. Over 12,000 tickets have been sold since Wright's signing. The madness continues as Wright becomes – we think – the first Burnley player to appear alongside Richard and Judy on ‘This Morning’, or indeed any other daytime-student-jobless-housewife tv programme. Ternent says he has some hope of persuading Wright to sign a further contract after the end of this season, commenting, "They say he's in the twilight of his career. That's nonsense. I know him and don't rule out the chance that Ian Wright might sign another contract for Burnley football club." Wasn’t it Ternent who said he was in the twilight of his career? He adds, "Ian Wright is a natural goalscorer. People have said to me he's a bit long in the tooth but I say so is Mitchell Thomas, so is Richard Gough, so is Tony Cottee. They have a natural ability. He's a naturally fit lad and I'm delighted to have got him. He's a fantastic person, he's got a bubbly personality and it's a lift for the whole town, for the whole club and for everything. A lot of people get the wrong impression of Ian Wright. He's a very kind, caring person. He's an exciting player, a one-off. We're in the top half-dozen and our ambition is to get the club into the First Division. We've got a chance and I think Ian coming to the club can only help that. I think it's good business. We're signing a lad who's a legendary goalscorer. Andy Payton, Andy Cooke and Ian Wright. That's not bad." Wright himself comments, "I never close the door. I said I would like to finish at the end of the season because that's when my contract ended. Now it seems, for whatever reason, that Burnley look like they're going somewhere. It seems like they're buzzing. People are always asking if I am going to carry on but first I want to play so that people can see I am still worth my place in the team. That way, if you prove you are, you can make the decision. When you hang up your boots you can miss the game badly and that has weighed on my mind for the last year or so. But I just want to play football and wherever is prepared to give me that opportunity will always get 100 per cent commitment from me. What I am going to do is show that I am fit enough to play on after this season. I know that I can still score goals in the First Division, which I did at Nottingham Forest. If anyone can talk me into it Stan can. Football is my first love and it always will be. I've had some blinding things that have happened to me in the last couple of years in respect of television and things. People think that's a natural thing for me to go into but I would gladly swap it for another 10 years playing. Gladly, because football means everything for me. That's why I'm privileged they want me at this club and I'll do the best I can." The club stress that a substantial police presence will be in the place to try to deter home supporters from going in the Cricket Field Stand. Tickets for the home game against Preston are also selling fast. The club advise fans to buy them early.

18/2 Wright attends his first Burnley training session. Ahead of the game, he says, "I'm glad it's all sorted out and I'm ready to play and ready to throw my hat in with the lads." Speaking of his determination to help us to promotion, he adds, "If you win something it means something. That's what it's all about, achieving something. It doesn't matter how high or low, it's still the feeling of being together for a cause and winning something." Ternent comments, "I think it will be a fantastic occasion for Burnley Football Club, a great occasion for the fans and for our players. It will be marvellous for them to play with Ian. Everything about it's right, but the most important thing is that we get the right result." He goes on, "Wigan will want three points and we will want three points, so may the best team win - as long as it's Burnley." Wigan buy Welsh international striker Neil Roberts from Wrexham in retaliation, but their attempt to buy Jamie Pollock is held up. Apparently £7,000 of Burnley shirts with number 33 on the back have now been sold. Thousands of Burnley supporters watch ‘Friday Night’s All Wright’ for the first ever time. As Ian Wright MBE (‘Massive Burnley Enthusiast’) becomes the first serving Burnley player to chat with Paula Yates and Julian Clary on a tv chatshow, we realise why we’ve never watched if before: it’s terrible.

19/2 Burnley 0 Wigan 0. Something of an anticlimax, I suppose, and Ian Wright's first non-scoring debut since Crystal Palace. Team: Crichton, Davis, Thomas, Cox, Little (West 75), Mullin, Johnrose, Cook, Branch (Smith 61), Cooke (Jepson 84), Wright. Subs not used: Armstrong and Mellon. Att: 20,435. See our match report for details. Burnley drop to 5^th. This is also the first time we haven't won at home since October. The club raffle Wright's playing kit from the day. Little is stretchered off, and Mitchell Thomas collects his fifth booking of the season, meaning he will now miss the home game against Preston. As all yellow cards are to be cancelled at the end of February, this is very unlucky. Barry Kilby is interviewed on Sky TV's 'Soccer AM' on the morning of the game, and is revealed to be a member of the Soccer AM 8 o'clock club! He confirms Wright will be allowed two days per week for his media commitments, a possible extension to the contract will be reviewed at the end of the season, and extra takings are in the order of £100,000. Latest rumour to follow the Wright transfer says we will sign Peter Ndlovu from Birmingham City.

20/2 Another rumour has Lee Sharpe, currently warming the bench at Bradford, set to join us any day now, honest.

21/2 Fancy another big name rumour? Teddy Sheringham on loan for the rest of the season! Nothing in it, as usual.

22/2 Tom Cowan joins Cambridge on a month’s loan and goes straight into their home game against Bury. Ternent comments, "It will do the lad good to get a game at first team level and that, in turn, should benefit us." Glen Little’s injury is not serious and he should be back at Colchester. He was earlier feared to have a broken leg, but instead has sustained bruising on a part of his leg which he broke earlier in his career. Burnley agree to participate in a pre-season tournament on the Isle of Man. Ternent has joined this before with Bury and reckons it’s a good work out. The tournament runs from 23^rd to 26^th July, and other sides confirmed to be participating are ‘current holders’ Oldham, Stoke and something described as an ‘Isle of Man National Side’. Two more teams will join. The competition moves around the island, in Douglas, Ramsay and Peel, giving full scope to visit as many as possible of the island’s 28 Good Beer Guide listed pubs. In response to demand, the club unveil a new ‘mini season ticket’ covering the last seven home games from Luton onwards. The ticket will give the same privileges as a full season ticket, and will also give the holder first refusal on buying a season ticket for their seat next season. Get their money while they’re still optimistic.

23/2 Burnley Reserves 2 Wolves Reserves 4. Burnley are 2-1 up at half time with goals from Mellon and West. Harrison, having apparently impressed Ternent in training, plays. Team: Mawson, West (Scott 70), Armstrong, Brass, Heywood, Jepson, Mellon, Harrison, Robertson, Swan (Shandran 70), Smith (Devenney 61) Subs not used: Paxton and Kelly. Armstrong picks up a calf strain ten minutes from time and is taken off. He is thought likely to be out of the squad for Colchester and Preston. With Cowan away and Thomas suspended against Preston, defensive resources may be stretched. Andy Cooke says that signing Wright was a good thing, even though it now means his own place is under pressure. He says he hopes to learn from Wright, and the mood in the dressing room is very good. Today's ration of bonkers rumours are Matt le Tissier on loan and Nigel Winterburn.

24/2 Gerry Harrison says he hopes to rejoin us. He comments, "I want to sign for Burnley and the manager knows that. Stan has given me every chance of getting fit so I've got to prove to him that I can do that. You only have to look at the squad to see this is an exciting place to come to. And anybody who comes here and says otherwise must be mad. Stan has put together a very good squad and it's as good now as it ever was when I was here in the past. And I desperately want to be a part of that." He adds, "Stan has said to me if I get fit and then prove my fitness there's a chance he will sign me. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed." Ternent dismisses the Ndlovu / Sharp speculation in the usual way as "complete rubbish." More than a week before the Preston game, only 1,000 tickets are still available, with Preston having sold out their allocation. The club will not be going back in for Tony Thorpe; Ternent is said to have been unimpressed by his attitude. Brett Angell, Clarets tormentor, signs for Preston for the rest of the season.

25/2 Barry and Sonia Kilby join the London Clarets and Peter Pike MP for the Association of Provincial Football Supporters Clubs in London (APFSCIL) 25^th Anniversary Dinner in the New Connaught Rooms, London. A top night is had by all. See our report on the evening. Paul Weller requires surgery on a knee injury and will be out for between a. month and six weeks. This will take him past the transfer deadline, which means he will now stay at the club at least for the rest of the season. Weller says he’d love to play a part once his injury has healed. Ahead of – it’s been a while since we mentioned the name – Wright’s first away game, Ternent comments, "The hype with Ian doesn't bother me. It's good for the club, good for the fans, and good for the players. And I don't suppose it will die down as long as Ian is here." Cherry Red records ask for contributions from supporters towards a new CD of Burnley songs, interviews and history. Wonder if they’d like the Fish Song? With all other tickets gone, the club make staff tickets available for the Preston match, while for the first time in living memory, Gillingham is made all-ticket.

26/2 Colchester 1 Burnley 2. Scorers: Davis (17, 38) / McGavin (19). Team: Crichton, Cox, Davis, Thomas, Little, Branch, Cook, Johnrose, Mullin (Jepson 90), Cook, Wright. Subs not used: Brass, Mellon, Smith, West. Att: 6,194. See our match report for details. Davis' second is his 50^th career goal. We remain 5^th. Wright is constantly barracked by the home fans in front of, oddly, Colchester’s biggest gate of the season, around 1,500 up on their previous best. They even make an announcement asking them to come back for the next home game! Colchester fans also chant abuse about Ian Wright's wife. Lovely. Wright gets booked, of which Ternent says, "I thought it was a disgrace. The fellow kicked him on the touchline and the referee booked him. I have to be very careful what I say. I thought the referee was mediocre but he's booked him and he can go and tell everyone he's booked Ian Wright." You tell ‘em, Stan. On the day rumour is that Huddersfield have bid £1.2m for Andy Cooke.

27/2 The Lee Sharpe rumour makes it to the Sunday tabloids. Peter Ndlovu comes on as a sub for Birmingham, so that must be the end of that one. Everton's John Collins is a new, but very daft rumour.

28/2 Preston Reserves 2 Burnley Reserves 2. Kevan (penalty) and Kelly are our scorers. Ours is a very young team: Mawson, Scott, Devenney, Williamson, Heywood, Harrison, Bowden (Leeson), Kelly, Shandran, Clark, Kevan. The Preston team contains one or two familiar faces, with Brett Angell, Gary Parkinson and Kurt Nogan. Parkinson scores from a free kick, but Nogan’s late ‘winner’ is ruled offside. This is the second of two games Harrison is eligible to play on trial. There’s speculation that Ternent might win the manager of the month award, to which he comments, "I'm not worried about awards, I'm just interested in winning matches." The club say the Preston game, sold out a week in advance, is the earliest a game has ever sold out in Burnley’s history.

29/2 Gordon Armstrong is reported to be fit to play against Preston. Bury have transfer-listed a number of their players. Any of Stan's old lads?