THIS week, the Football League printed the official list of all players released by clubs - a list that is now being scanned in fine detail by managers up and down the country.

The clock is therefore ticking for Burnley Football Club, who need a manager in place quickly.

Personally I would be looking for better players than we have released if I'm honest.

There is an absolute army on the market, so it all comes down to the skill and judgement of the new man.

He will have his choice and that is what makes the job an exciting opportunity.

I remember it took Stan quite a while to build what he considered to be 'his side', and that is something the new manager will quickly get the chance to assemble.

I know there are eight players still under contract and many of them will be expecting to start next season wearing the shirts.

But in my view, there's far less than that assured of their places.

He needs players all over the pitch, starting with a goalkeeper and ending with a quality striker.

Brian Jensen has been a model of inconsistency, while the defence was a joke for most of the season.

We need players right through the midfield to strengthen the competition for places and I'm sick and tired of people saying that Ian Moore runs his socks off up front.

If you look at his statistics in games, he's not had a damned strike on goal in many games and that's unheard of for a striker.

I'm talking basically about the home games, but at Turf Moor strikers have to be getting attempts in on goal.

This is the biggest problem - and it's not one that Burnley alone are looking to solve.

All sides need that big man who can score goals with his head and is also nimble on his feet.

It's pointless crying over spilt milk, but we really missed Gareth Taylor after he left for Nottingham Forest last summer.

He was in a rich vein of form and Stan knew how to get the best out of a player who had not exactly endeared himself to many previous clubs.

The players are there to be signed, and that is why the new manager has to be someone with the knowledge of First Division and Premiership players that are being freed.

Looking at the prospective candidates for the manager's job, it's a fear of mine that there is a real lack of quality.

Nobody jumps out as an outstanding name and I'm not overly happy with the names being banded about.

But the chairman has kept it very quiet and it really wouldn't surprise me if he still has something up his sleeve.