Still waiting for the first summer signing...

...actually make that Owen Coyle's first permanent signing since he arrived at Turf Moor.

So far we have seen Andrew Cole, Jon Harley and most recently James O'Connor turn down deals to remain Burnley players, whilst David Unsworth is yet to put pen to paper. I wonder if Coyle still believes five signings will be enough.

It is early for alarm bells to be ringing, but one thing I worry about is Coyle's and the clubs reluctance to negotiate fees and wages for players we obviously want. Naturally, it is sensible. In the long run, our shrewd money management will perhaps benefit us. However, it is worrying because all the other clubs around us are not afraid to go out and pay the prices in an inflated market. Let's just see what the next month brings.

The club this morning confirmed that we have bid for Scunthorpe United striker Martin Paterson, the bid was subsequently turned down. Here are some other players who we have been linked with, believe what you want.

Derek Riordan (Celtic) This one refuses to go away...

David Weir (Rangers) Yes, he has had a great season...but no thanks!

Darel Russell (Norwich City) Could be useful.

Kaspars Gorkšs (Blackpool) Who knows? I don't.

Adios La Liga

La Liga, like the English Leagues, has come to an end. Real Madrid coasted to the title and a disappointing Valencia lifted the Copa Del Rey. However, it was a little story about a valet and an expensive car which caught my attention:

'This award goes to the unnamed valet at Madrid restaurant Soko. When Getafe midfielder Javier Casquero turned up with a Porsche Carrera 911 and handed over the keys, the valet called his mate, went for a spin and ploughed head first into six cars.'

Read the rest of Sid Lowe's review on the Spanish season here...

Farewell Jon Harley

People support their football clubs in good times and bad times. Throughout those times people inevitably adopt their ‘favourite’ players. Jon Harley was certainly a Burnley player I was fond of.

It emerged yesterday afternoon that chants of “Jon ‘arley, JON ‘ARLEY, Jon ‘arley” would no longer be heard from the Longside. Owen Coyle and the Burnley left back were unable to agree terms on a new deal.

The thing that endeared me most to Jon Harley was his cheeky cockney attitude and the way he always seemed to be smiling and enjoying his football. Add this to what I would describe as an impressive season for the Clarets, and you are bound to have a player who most fans appreciate.

Naturally, due to those reasons, I was sad to see Jon leaving the club. Truth be told however, I was not all that surprised. Members of the Clarets Mad message board have pointed out that Harley’s form this season was not his form last season, when many people pinpointed left back as a problem area. Neither in the last month has Jon Harley been at his best.

Jon Harley will certainly be missed by many fans, but he is very much replaceable. I think that Owen Coyle knows this.

In addition to Harley not agreeing a new deal, John Spicer and Garreth O'Connor have been released from the club. Gabor Kiraly has also been made available for a transfer.

Picture taken from burnleyfootballclub.com

Looking back, looking forward...

One great thing about being a football fan is the air of optimism that every true supporter has ahead of a new season. This past season was no different, even for a Burnley fan!

I remember watching the summer signings arrive and thinking: ‘you just never know, stranger things have happened!’

Come August, not even last season’s nightmare nineteen game winless run was dampening my spirits. Especially as we got off to flying start at home to promotion candidates West Brom. A 2-1 win may even have had the most pessimistic fans dreaming…maybe?

However, this great home win was not to act as a catalyst for a continued good run at home. Throughout the season we continued to struggle at home, particularly in 2007. One particular home defeat proved enough for then manager Steve Coterill.

A grim Tuesday night in November saw Hull steal the points in front of less than 10,000 inside Turf Moor. The goal not only sealed the win for Hull but also the end of Coterills’ tenure as Burnley manager.

Owen Coyle came in and the ‘honey moon period’ was, for me, the most exciting time of the season. Away wins at Watford, Charlton and Wolves were achieved playing fluent, attacking football; something which the regular Burnley faithful had come unaccustomed to under Coterill. Disappointingly we still struggled at home.

The win at Wolves lifted us to seventh in the table, with a game in hand to climb into that all too talked about top six. The top six never came; we always seemed to fail at the pinnacle moments. It’s hard not to look back at home defeats to the then bottom two; QPR and Preston and think, what if?


Coyle’s first home win as Burnley manager came on January 12th 2008 against Plymouth Argyle, a Blake volley was enough for the Turf Moor crowd to witness their first Burnley win since Norwich in October.

It was the start of a six game unbeaten home run, yet all of a sudden our away form faltered. The main theme was inconsistency, and it was the very theme that every team around the top suffered with. It is the exact reason why we have seen West Brom go up as champions with only 81 points, and Watford reach the play-offs with just 69.

A disappointing last third to the season saw any faint play hopes vanish, but it is important to look at the season with, at least, a bit of perspective.

Not since THAT season with Stan at the helm do I remember entering the month of April with something still to play for. Not in my time supporting Burnley do I remember the side trying to play as attractive football as has been seen since Coyle’s arrival. Not since 2001/02 have we achieved as many points as we have this season.

It is disappointing to slip out of the top half, but once more as pre-season looms there is reason for optimism.

Brendan Flood has joined the board and Paul Fletcher is behind an exciting re-development of the ground. Owen Coyle has a summer to get together a squad of footballers who suit him, and get them playing his way.

We may fall short again next season, but once more the ‘pre-season optimism’ has returned going into the summer. As depressing as it is to look back and think ‘what if?’ It is also refreshing to look forward and think ‘what will be?’

Thanks to everyone at Burnley Football Club for an enjoyable season and roll on August 2008.

Up the Clarets!