Weller and Grant in the dog house after having a laugh

Last updated : 23 July 2003 By Tony Scholes

Tony Grant - he and Paul Weller faced the wrath of Stan Ternent
In August 1999 four players were told they would never play for the club again as Stan looked to get things sorted after having just arrived from Bury. None of Steve Blatherwick, Lee Howey, Michael Williams and Mark Winstanley did play in the first team again although Winstanley did feature in the reserves.

Since then he has defended his players most of the time and apart from the odd comment such as Robbie Blake playing in diving boots and Arthur Gnohere having his head up his backside individuals have never been singled out.

But that was certainly not the case last night after the Isle of Man mauling and the two central midfielders were both substituted after failing to show enough with Stan accusing them of having a laugh.

In a defiant message after the game Stan said, "In the first half we gave some poor goals away, but there were some players who didn't put out tonight which disappoints me. But they won't play - it's as simple as that. They didn't put out and they are having a laugh, so I'll get other players in.

"Paul Weller wasn't putting out for me, so I took him off. He was nowhere near - miles off the pace - and if he doesn't shape up he won't play.

"Tony Grant is the same. He won't play either if he doesn't shape up, but first I've got to get other players. At the moment it's a comfort zone situation for them because they don't have the competition for places I need.

"It's what I expected to happen with all the players I let go, but I have to get the club on the right financial footing and it's necessary unfortunately. I'll sort it out."

Quite where this leaves Weller, Burnley’s longest serving player, and Grant, a £250, 000 capture from KKMC less than two years ago, is anyone’s guess but you get the feeling that if Stan has his way neither of them will be anywhere near the first team squad on the opening day of the season.

The two players have often been targeted by the boo boys in the past at Turf Moor and this is hardly going to help their cause. It will be very interesting to see whether either of them feature in the remaining pre-season games.