Reaction to Ternent sacking

By Longsider
May 4 2004

The sacking of Stan Ternent has brought a mixed reaction from fans and ex-players of the club. A number of fans expected Stan to walk away in the Summer but its fair to say no one expected him to be pushed following statements made by Barry Kilby in the past.

The news that Stan Ternent has been sacked has shocked people because of the 100% public support Barry Kilby had given the manager over the previous months.

On numerous occassions the chairman told Burnley fans that 'we want Stan' whenever questions were asked about the managers contract which was expiring at the end of the campaign.

Andy Payton had described the news as 'the end of an era' in the LET


"In some ways I'm not surprised because I'd heard rumours that Stan was going if we stayed up, and staying if we went down. But it's still a strange one. Stan has done well to keep Burnley in the First Division but maybe it was time for a change. Reading between the lines, it might have been Stan's decision more than it was the club's."

"Perhaps he realised he'd taken the club as far as he could. At the end of the day, it's not easy keeping a team in the First Division and there were no assurances that he was going to get any extra money to spend next season.

Payts then went on to give some possible reasons for the departure of Stan...

"Maybe the club couldn't offer Stan the terms he wanted either, so it could have come down to money in the end. I'm sure there will be some mixed emotions in the dressing room right now. The players who got picked all the time will be sad to see him go and the ones who he didn't will be glad that he's gone. That's how it works in this business. I just hope Stan stays in the game. He's still got a lot to offer and I can see him taking over at a club like Sheffield Wednesday because he knows that division inside out. As for Burnley, it's the start of a new era. People are already starting to speculate about who'll take over but I just hope it's someone with Burnley connections. We've been down the other road before when Chris Waddle got appointed as manager and it's asking a lot for someone like that to come in and do a job without money to spend. "

Former keeper Chris Pearce was also stunned with the news and described Stan as a 'good honest pro and did a decent job at Turf Moor.'

Former manager BRIAN MILLER "This has come as a surprise to me. This kind of thing happens in football all the time unfortunately. It's always been a difficult club to manage. No manager there has ever had any real money to spend."


There has been a mixed reaction from the fans so far with a number disappointed with the decision whilst others believe Stan has done all he can for the club and a new manager is needed to take the club forwards.

More to follow.