Stan Ternent: Gone but not forgotten...

By Turftalker
May 5 2004

As the dust slowly begins to settle, the shock is only still beginning to wear off. Here Turftalker gives his views on Ternent's imminent departure and what we should look for in his successor.

Yesterday, I woke up, checked the messageboards and was in shock. The heart took an extra beat, as I began to consider Burnley FC without Stan Ternent! I have had a season ticket at the club for 7 years, 6 of which have been with this man, a man who has been as part of Burnley football club as the fans themselves. I must acknowledge for a split second my shock turned to despair, why? when?, what the hell will we do now?

Let me put my flag on the mast - I was  a Stan Ternent fan, not because I knew and liked the man, but because I enjoyed his press comments, his style and his results at Turf Moor. If he would have stayed next season I would not have been disappointed, indeed I had been telling all who would listen I would give Stan until Christmas to try and sort the club out, after the seismic changes forced upon him by the collapse of ITV Digital. I was surprised that after Barry Kilby had praised him so much, and still does, that Stan would soon be queueing up at the Manager job centre.

But the more I thought about things, the more I have come to accept this may be the right time. I wanted more than most people for Stan to keep going, get us to the Premiership like he desired, let Burnley be his last job. I was gutted to hear the sheer disapppointment the great man felt, but maybe, just maybe it is right.

It has been clear over the last two years that results have not been good enough, but more than any reason for me, is that it might be time for a fresh approach. Now of course when Barry Kilby says this we automatically fear the worst: "we must be cost cutting," "the board must lack ambition" etc etc. However I want to believe Barry Kilby and I do believe him. Barry has been a loyal servant of Burnley FC, he kept us going in our dark hours and he has obviously decided, with other mitigating factors, that as we approach a new 3 year plan to change things. Maybe Dave Edmundson stressed the need for a younger, forward thinking man to take the club onwards, I do not know.

I accept that Barry Kilby has not helped his own case by continuing to praise Stan Ternent, as the best thing in 30 years. However, I believe he is right to keep this praise up, quite simply because it is true. Some people believe that in saying this Kilby is merely continuing to stab Stan in the back, I think he is merely being honest, and making the brave decision that for all the good things Stan has brought, the great memories, no one person is bigger than the club and no one can go on forever. As we all painfully know - football manager's more often than not find their careers ending on a low - with Stan going now, I feel he still leaves us popular and on a high.

Whether the decision itself is a good one no one can say - it will depend largely on the successor who must be given time and support to progress the club onwards. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I have no doubt it will be used with the departure of Stan Ternent in months or years time. I for one think it depends on the calibre of man we get in. Yet from what Barry Kilby said in his press conference, I believe we will get a younger, more modern manager wanting a fresh dimension on team affairs. Barry Kilby has been very brave.

What this decision is, in my eyes, is rational. Stan leaves and we do not have to sack him and pay compensation. A new manager gets the whole summer to get players, as the squad is very small and would be his squad. Without sacking Stan later we have avoided a new man working with Ternent's signings who would be on longer contracts. Equally we have the chance to give Stan a big farewell, a farewell he deserves.

Stan Ternent has achieved a lot for Burnley Football Club, I intend to come down from Scotland especially to thank him. But this is our club and will continue to be so. We will move onwards, albeit not necessarily upwards immediately. But we will face the summer and new season with forms of excitement, apprehension and more that makes it worthwhile being a football fan. A big era is about to come to an end at Turf Moor, but another one will open. I praise Barry Kilby for having the guts to make such a tough decision and hope that every claret can salute Stan Ternent, support his successor and more importantly say: "I support Burnley FC."

Turftalker.