Pre-season in place as Weller considers European move
When Stan Ternent arrived as Burnley manager, one of his first tasks was to set up a pre-season schedule ahead of the big kick off. He’d moved quickly and was able to announce four games with the hope of a fifth one to come.
He confirmed that the squad would be travelling to a base at Exeter University and while there would play friendlies against Dawlish and Elmore on 18th and 21st July respectively. On their return there would be games against Halifax at the Shay on 25th July with a trip to Spotland to take on Rochdale on 1st August.
He was hoping to arrange a further game on 28th July but this, like the other four would be away from home with Turf Moor being unavailable due to the resurfacing of the pitch. The manager said: “With four games already in place and a chance of a fifth, I think we will have ample time to prepare for the season.
“Getting some useful matches in is always an essential part of the build-up and this summer is no different. The lads will ,have been back for about ten days when we set off, so I should have some clearer ideas about the squad by the time we start playing.”
It was looking as if Ternent would need to plan without the services of 23-year-old midfielder Paul Weller. Having been offered a contract to extend his Turf Moor stay, Weller was looking elsewhere with at least one English top flight club, believed to be West Ham, and three clubs in Europe all keen on signing him. A move to the Netherlands looking the most likely.
Weller would at least generate much needed funds should he move to West Ham, but that wasn’t the case with the other out of contract players for whom there was mixed news. Damian Matthew reported that he was keen to stay should the price be right as did Gerry Harrison.
However, Chris Vinnicombe seemed set to depart and wanted to move back to his native South West. Talks with his first club Exeter had broken down but he had move on to have talks with Cardiff.
There was no news on either Mark Winstanley or Jamie Hoyland although Hoyland was hoping to land a player/coach role with Gordon Cowans having departed to return to Aston Villa. In Hoyland’s way could be Harry Wilson. He’d left Burnley a year earlier with the appointment of Cowans and had worked with Ternent at Bury.
Follow UpTheClarets:
Share this page :