I would like to get hold of the guy who changed the rules to goal difference

Joint caretaker boss Steve Ogrizovic said after the game,

Stan had nothing but praise for his players and the fans after he had seen the season come to an end with no play off hopes.

If this proves to be Paul Gascoigne's swansong in English football before he heads for a new challenge in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, the United States or even Turkey, it will go down as one hell of an anti-climax.

Eight minutes were all that the former England hero was afforded and that was not time enough for him to inspire Burnley to reach the First Division play-offs, with the claret and blues losing out to Norwich on goal difference.

He did his best, forcing the Coventry goalkeeper Magnus Hedman into a couple of excellent saves with two characteristic curling free-kicks in stoppage time, but ultimately it was not enough. As he sheepishly accepted the applause of the crowd afterwards, in what amounted to almost a funereal atmosphere, one sensed that he knew his time was up.

One last hurrah was expected of football's clown prince when he left Everton on a free transfer last month, but Turf Moor has proved no place for an Indian summer. This, his sixth appearance in claret and blue, was the first time he had tasted victory and, in the context of Norwich's superior result over Stockport, it still felt like defeat.

"I thought it was there for Gazza to win it," the Burnley manager Stan Ternent said. "He did everything right with his free-kicks but sadly their keeper made two fantastic saves. We're all feeling very flat. To miss out by just one goal is very hard to swallow. If it had been on goals scored, not goal difference, we'd have gone up, but we just have to come back better for the experience."

Burnley may well have another chance to grace the Premiership, having finished one place short of the play-offs for the second consecutive season, but Gascoigne's time in England appears to be up. "America is an option," he said. "So is Dubai and so is Saudi Arabia. I don't know what will happen next. It's something I've got to think about."

In fact, since Gareth Taylor's excellent headed goal within a minute of his introduction midway through the second half was not enough to get Burnley into the play-offs, it was an atmosphere of uncertainty all round the club yesterday. Coventry, for their part, performed reasonably, but their future is unclear after the dismissal of Roland Nilsson as manager last week.

Steve Ogrizovic and Trevor Peake, who are in temporary charge, must have been pleased with the way their side performed but the broader picture is not so cheerful. Debts of around £30m have already dissuaded Stuart Pearce, the board's first choice, and it remains to be seen whether Gary McAllister, next on their list, will be tempted.

Gascoigne, of course, has hinted at a wish to enter management, but probably what he needs now is a clean break, and to get back to enjoying football again. Burnley, sad to say, has not worked out.

PAUL GASCOIGNE twice had the chance to add a belated footnote of glory to his career of huge underachievement yesterday. But fate - and Coventry's Swedish international goalkeeper Magnus Hedman - conspired against him and Burnley as a play-off place ultimately eluded them.

The 34-year-old, who moved to Turf Moor on a short-term contract following Walter Smith's dismissal at Everton a month ago, was thrown on in a last desperate gamble eight minutes from time to see if he could conjure up something special from a set-piece and deliver the goal that would have edged Norwich out of the top six.

Gazza so nearly obliged. With the game extending agonisingly for the home fans into the third minute of stoppage time, former Ipswich striker David Johnson was fouled 20 yards out and Gascoigne, with characteristic impudence, arrowed the free-kick low towards the bottom corner only for Hedman to paw it round the post at full stretch.

But that was not the final drama. Within seconds Coventry's Colin Healy was booked for another infringement on the edge of the area, Gascoigne again took aim and this time his shot was heading just inside the near post before Hedman's diving intervention.

"They were two fantastic saves," the Burnley manager, Stan Ternent, said afterwards. "The script was written for Paul but it just wasn't to be."

Coventry, despite being riven by boardroom strife which led to the sacking of manager Roland Nilsson earlier in the week, were able to play with more freedom knowing promotion was already beyond them.

In contrast, Burnley's performance was charged with tension and it was not until Ternent sent on the thick set six-footer, Gareth Taylor, in the 66th minute that their steamroller-like pressure earned its reward. Within moments of arriving Taylor headed them emphatically ahead from Dean West's cross.

Even then Lee Mills, who struck a post, and Lee Hughes, who blazed over with the goal gaping, had opportunities to end Burnley's dreams before the spotlight fell on Gascoigne.

EIGHT minutes were all that Paul Gascoigne was granted in what could prove to be his final game in English football, and it was not long enough for him to earn one last shot at the FA Barclaycard Premiership via the play-offs. He went close with two free kicks deep into stoppage time, but the second goal that was needed to beat Norwich City to sixth place was not forthcoming. For Gascoigne and Burnley, it was all a terrible anticlimax.

Burnley led the Nationwide League at the turn of the year and had scarcely been out of the top six all season, but a lack of quality proved their downfall and that is something that Gascoigne, in six games since his free transfer from Everton, has been unable to rectify. Fittingly, perhaps, he was used yesterday as a joker, the last of Burnley's three permitted substitutions.

It is only three months since Gascoigne spoke of his wish to play for England in the World Cup but, legs weary and mind burdened by a succession of problems off the field, he now seems unlikely to be retained by Burnley. So, what next for Gascoigne? "America is an option," he said. "So is Dubai and so is Saudi Arabia. I don't know what will happen next but, when I do finish playing, I'll definitely take two years out of the game and then I'll look at whether or not I want to come back."

Burnley had already made one inspired substitution, Gareth Taylor heading home Dean West's cross within a minute of his introduction in the second half, but Norwich's second goal against Stockport County left Burnley needing another. Gascoigne was summoned from the bench and, perhaps for the first time in a claret-and-blue shirt, he rose to the occasion, but his two trademark curling free kicks were well saved by the excellent Magnus Hedman.

"We're all feeling very flat," Stan Ternent, the Burnley manager, said. "To fall short on the final day by just one goal is very hard to swallow. If it had been done on goals scored, not goal difference, we'd have gone up, but I'm very proud of the lads and what they've achieved this season. All we can do now is hope that we come back stronger for the experience."