BURY chairman Terry Robinson is drawing up plans for next season, which include Stan Ternent as manager and Sam Ellis as his trusted assistant.

The Gigg Lane chief expects to keep his management team, despite widespread but wide-of-the-mark rumour that Ternent had actually quit to take the vacant manager's job at Second Division Burnley.

Speculation was rife that the Clarets had made their anticipated move for the miracle-working Shakers boss yesterday. But Mr Robinson revealed that, at the time his manager was said to have resigned, they were in talks mapping out the club's strategy for a new Division One campaign.

Surprised to be asked whether Ternent had quit, the chairman said: "If he's gone, it's news to me.

"I've just had about a two hour meeting with him and the assistant manager, talking about next season, about what we're going to do.

"As far as I am concerned, they are perfectly happy with the arrangements here and I'd be surprised at this moment in time if they were going anywhere."

An ex-Claret himself and with a home in the Burnley area, Ternent has been among the favourites to succeed Chris Waddle, who lasted less than a year in the Turf Moor hot-seat. Successful Macclesfield boss Sammy McIlroy has also been linked while another former Burnley player, Wrexham boss Brian Flynn, is understood to have been interviewed.

Mr Robinson added: "Our discussions touched on the speculation but, as far as I am concerned, he (Ternent) didn't leave here with the intention of not coming back!"

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