BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent is hopeful of keeping leading scorer Andy Payton at Turf Moor when his contract expires in the summer.

Payton will be free to move under the Bosman ruling at the end the current deal he signed when joining the Clarets from Huddersfield Town in a swap deal with Paul Barnes in January, 1998.

But Ternent stressed his desire to hold onto the 32-year-old front man, whose twin strike at Stoke City on Saturday made him the leading scorer in the Second Division with 18 goals.

He said: "I've spoken to Andy about it. We could make him an offer but rather than do that I'm better asking Andy what he's looking for and we'll take it from there.

"Andy wanted to play for Burnley and I intend to keep him at Burnley but I won't have a control over it if somebody comes along and wants to pay him twice as much as I can afford to pay him. That's the way of the world.

"But that won't happen if I have anything to do with it."

Locally-born Payton has scored 53 goals for the club he supported as a boy and is just two away from a double century of career goals.

He is a central figure in Burnley's promotion prospects and Ternent believes there are plenty more goals in the former Middlesbrough, Celtic and Barnsley striker.

To that end, the Clarets chief will look to prolong his stay at Turf Moor. Ternent added: "The decision would be Andy's. If a club from the Premiership or a higher division came in and he fancied going there, Andy would have fulfilled his obligation to Burnley Football Club, that's from the player's side.

"But Burnley will move heaven and earth to keep him, there's no doubt about that from my point of view.

"I am hopeful that we can sort it out."

Under the Bosman ruling, Payton is free to talk to other clubs and Port Vale boss Brian Horton is known to be among his admirers.

But Burnley will get first bite at the cherry and will look to resolve the matter as early as they can.

"I don't think under any circumstances that Andy would want to leave, in my view. But he's well within his rights to keep his options open and players will do that.

"We have not tabled an offer as yet. That's one of the things in the offing and needs to be sorted out," Ternent added.

Meanwhile, Burnley sent a strong reserve side to Grimsby Town this afternoon as they looked to stay among the Pontin's League Premier Division title challengers.

Glen Little was set for another run-out after being restricted to just half-an-hour's first-team action in the past couple of weeks.

And Paul Smith, Micky Mellon and Peter Swan were also among a clutch of senior players expected to figure in the 2pm kick-off.

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