BULLISH Burnley boss Stan Ternent insists his side is here to stay after they kicked off their First Division campaign in impressive style at Bolton.

The Clarets came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw thanks to a goal by new signing Phil Gray on his full debut.

And Ternent believes his newly promoted side has what it takes to make an impact at this level.

"One swallow doesn't make a summer. It's a 46-game season but we have no intention of going down," he said.

"They (the critics) may be right. I personally think they'll be a million miles off the mark.

"We've gone a lot of games without losing a match when it really matters.

"I have a squad I'm very happy with. They are cracking lads with a very high fitness level and a commitment, I've got a fantastic chairman and board of directors and probably the best supporters in the country so what more could you want.

"If you can't play for them, you're in the wrong game."

Ternent added: "I'm happy with point but like I say one swallow doesn't make a summer. We've got a mega game again next week against Wimbledon and then on it goes.

"But this is what we've worked hard for. This is what we toiled all last season for and now we've got it we intend to make the most of it. "There will be Doubting Thomases about the place I'm sure because it's a hard league. But I've every confidence in the players and their ability and desire and I think we'll be fine.

"It was a good afternoon's work but we have to kick on. We've got Wimbldeon next who are another team who will be fancied so that will be tough for us as well.

"We expect them to be tough but we are up for it and we want to enjoy it and you get enjoyment out of getting results, or I do anyway."

After a hesitant first half, Burnley came out of their shells after the break following the introduction of Glen Little.The wing man wasn't fit to start after missing part of the pre-season build-up but quickly made up for lost time buy turning the course of the game and laying on Gray's 55th-minute header to cancel out Per Frandsen's first-half penalty.

"Glen came on and I thought he did excellently. He had a good chance himself and set up mine," said Gray who found the net for the first time ever on the opening day of the season.

The striker, who was due to link up with the Northern Ireland squad yesterday for their mid-week international against Yugoslavia, added: "I was glad to get a goal. It was great to come here and get a point. In the first half we didn't play as well as we knew we could.

"The gaffer said that at half-time and so we thought 'right here we go' and the second half was a totally different story.

"It was a great cross from Glen for the goal and I thought we were going to go on and win it.

"Once we got to 1-1 I thought we were the better team, although they had one cleared off the line."

Luton Town's Liam George was again linked with Burnley in the national Press yesterday but the young striker isn't on his way to Turf Moor.