1997-98 had just ended and so did Chris Waddle's tenure as Burnley Manager, with him went Glenn Roader, Gordon Cowans and Chris Woods, bleak times seemed upon Burnley again.
But a saviour was at hand! Francis Stanley Ternent (Stan), left his job at Bury where he was a legend, winning two promotions and stabilizing the team in all of Greater Manchester's shadow in the Championship. Former record signing Vinnicombe had gone, Jamie Hoyland had gone, Gerry Harrison and Damian Matthew had played their last games in a Claret shirt and Marlon Beresford had been sold to Middlesbrough in the March with former manager Waddle still fighting a relegation battle.
Thread bare, would be how the team was when Stan walked in, but amazi
He rante Stan would become a Legend in almost every Burnley fans eyes, his actions in the transfer market would be as swift as his sacking of the ousted four, bringing in Gordon "Stretch" Armstrong and Peter Swan from arch Nemesis Neil Warnock from his former club Bury. But it would be the turn of the year when he signed Graham"de"Branch"io", and Steve Davis one legend in the making , and one Legend making a return (Steve's third time in the Claret shirt). Tom Cowan and Paul Cook would sign in March and with that, Stan had assembled a side what would do Burnley Football Club justice. On the plus side while Stan would sign defenders and Midfielders, his Forward line would go from strength to strength Andy Payton(above right) would notch 20 league goals, With Andy Cooke bagging 9, and Burnley's newest wing wonder Glen Little(above left) notching 5, in a stop start season with the In's and outs constant. a respectful 15th place and the threat of relegation was never an issue Stan had arrived !! 
! |
|
|
|
1998 - 1999 Division Two
ngly, he begged borrowed and stole, he somehow managed to use 40 players, but he biggest talking point of the season was when Stan publicly sacked 4 players live on radio, in a post match press conference! 
d "It's not personal, its business, Steve Blatherwick,Lee Howey, Mark Winstanley and to a lesser degree Micheal Williams, because he will never win the crowd over. will not play for Burnley Football Club again. They are not right for Burnley and they are not coming from where i am coming from. They are on the transfer list - they can all go on a free transfer". Stan had arrived, his way or the highway. 
