THE Clarets have been handed a cash boost of £664,000 as part of a £20million package designed to help ailing Nationwide League clubs.

With first division clubs hardest hit by the collapse of ITV Digital, the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, has agreed to transfer monies to the Nationwide League clubs in two instalments.

And Football League spokesman Ian Christon admitted this morning: "We hope to tie up an additional loan deal for £10-£15million before Christmas with more money going straight to the clubs.

"The initial £20million deal will see first division clubs like Burnley get £332,000 immediately, with the same amount at the start of next season, August 2003. The fund is made up of money put in by the Premiership and the Football Association."

The cash injection is welcome news for the Clarets the day after admitting the next two seasons will be hard in the wake of the loss of TV money.

Having yesterday admitted that Burnley may have to sell players to try and balance their books, chairman Barry Kilby confessed today: "With the transfer window re-opening in three weeks time, I have not had one single approach from anyone for any of our players at Turf Moor."

In recent years it has always been winger Glen Little who has attracted much of the speculation and his impressive displays in the televised Worthington Cup ties against both Spurs and Manchester United have once again put his name in the frame.

South coast rivals Southampton and Portsmouth are two clubs who have been linked with a bid for Little although respective managers Gordon Strachan and Harry Redknapp have always denied any interest.

"I have heard the same rumours that other fans have but I can confirm there have been no bids," he said. "We have said we will have to sell players if the right bid comes in but everyone can see how stagnant the transfer market is.

"We do have a plan in place that doesn't involve player sales and that is where we are at the moment."

Clarets boss Stan Ternent can ill afford to see players leave as he is already operating with a very reduced squad that will again be stretched to its limits at the weekend.

When Rotherham visit Turf Moor on Saturday he is without suspended defenders Mark McGregor and Arthur Gnohere who were so impressive in keeping a clean sheet at Millmoor last month.

McGregor is suspended following his dismissal at Watford while, in the same game, Gnohere collected his fifth booking of the season.