FORMER Claret Paul Gascoigne is being linked with the vacant manager's position at third division Exeter City.

But former Clarets boss Adrian Heath is today out of a job as one of the casualties following the dismissal of Peter Reid as Sunderland manager.

Gascoigne, who joined Burnley's play-off push in March, has reportedly made it known through his advisor Ian Elliott that he is keen on succeeding John Cornforth at Exeter City.

Exeter vice-chairman Mike Lewis has admitted that the club would consider giving Gascoigne his first managerial role.

"We're flattered and we're serious," said Lewis. "We had been in contact with Paul's agent two months ago to see if he could come down and play for us. For all sorts of reasons that did not happen.

"But as we have a clean sheet of paper in front of us we are looking at every possibility."

Gascoigne has been out of the game since he was released by the Clarets but Lewis is apparently not concerned by Gascoigne's lack of managerial experience.

He said: "I've been 28 years in the game and I've taken managers to clubs where they have been very successful without actually having managed a Sunday morning team.

"The next move would be to get Paul here to talk to us so we can look him in the eye and see if he is totally serious about this - we think he is.

"We will ask him what coaching abilities he has and what his ambitions are, career wise.

"Until we've done that we can't really say more on this issue."

What lies next in store for Heath also remains to be seen. Still a popular figure at Turf Moor he has paid the price for Reid's failure to keep the Black Cats away from the foot of the table.

Heath, both a player and manager at Turf Moor, has also managed at Sheffield United.