Championship Season Preview 2006/07 - Burnley

Burnley

Odds: 100/1

Last Five Seasons
2005/06 - 17 (Championship), 2004/05 - 13 (Championship), 2003/04 - 19 (Championship), 2002/03 - 16 (Championship), 2001/02 - 7 (Championship).

2005/06 Cup Progress
FA Cup Third Round vs Derby County (a) - lost 2-1.
Carling Cup Third Round vs Aston Villa (a) - lost 1-0.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Ade Akinibiyi (striker) - 14 goals.

Players In
Andy Gray (Sunderland - £750,000), Alan Mahon (Wigan Athletic - £200,000) Steve Jones (Crewe Alexandra - Free), Stephen Foster (Crewe Alexandra - Free).

Players Out
Marc Pugh (Bury - Free), Daniel Karbassiyoon (Released), Mark Crossley (Released), Martin Reilly (Released).

Burnley have struggled the Championship in recent seasons and will see survival as their main priority following a seventeenth placed finish last term. Given the club's limited budget, manager Steve Cotterill has spent almost £1 million this summer bringing new talent to the club.

Cotterill signed Sunderland striker Andy Gray for £750,000 following his loan spell at the club late last season. Gray netted 18 goals for Sheffield United during the 2004/05 campaign and is a proven performer at this level. He joined Sunderland for £1.1 million following the Black Cats' promotion to the Premiership but Gray struggled to break into the first team.

Northern Ireland international Steve Jones arrived on a free transfer from Crewe Alexandra and signed a three year contract. Together with Gray, they should fill the void left by Ade Akinbiyi, who finished as last season's top goal scorer despite departing for Sheffield United in January.

Stephen Foster was the second Crewe players to join Burnley this summer after rejecting a new contract offer at Gresty Road. The 25 year old defender, who was also pursued by Barnsley, started 200 league matches for the Railwaymen. Wigan Athletic midfielder Alan Mahon, who also had a loan spell at Turf Moor last season, joined on a £200,000 permanent transfer. Mahon struggled to adapt to life in the Premiership but made a big impact when he returned to the Championship on loan.

Burnley decided to scrap their reserve team for next season to ease the workload on their group of young players, some of whom played three matches a week last season, while striker Gifton Noel-Williams is yet to decide on where his future lies for next season. The former Watford striker spent seven matches on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion but their relegation may have scuppered a permanent deal.

Verdict
It will be another tough season for Burnley but they should do enough to survive relegation. Manager Steve Cotterill has seemingly solved the club's goal scoring crisis with the arrival of Andy Gray while Alan Mahon will provide much needed creativity in the middle of the park.

About The Author-- David Walker runs Paddy Power free bet and football betting systems websites. A free email course: "Seven Days to Better Betting" is available at both of these websites.

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