BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill has money to spend in his pursuit of new players.

That is the message from chairman Barry Kilby as the race to strengthen the Clarets squad hots up.

Cotterill has spent all week glued to the telephone in the hope of attracting fresh faces to the camp ahead of the next league game against Crewe Alexandra, in eight days time.

And after freeing up some capital, Kilby revealed that permanent deals are now an option as well as the possibility of long-term loan deals arriving at Turf Moor.

"There is some money there to spend and we will be adding to our numbers with more quality," promised Kilby.

"I have spoken to Steve about the situation and we will see what we can do, but we are definitely going to pull up on the squad numbers.

"The budget has been spent, but the gates so far have given us some leeway and I would hope we can add to our squad before the Crewe game."

Kilby revealed that new boss Cotterill has spent his annual budget in signing the five players who have done so much to boost confidence in the Clarets camp.

Four of those summer signings - Frank Sinclair, Micah Hyde, Danny Coyne and Michael Duff - have proven international pedigree.

And in John McGreal, the defence now had a leader who has completed the remoulding of a Burnley defence that had the second worst record in Division One last season.

"We could easily have got more bulk in, but so far it has been a straight choice between bulk and quality," added Kilby.

"What Steve has brought in so far is quality. But we all know the dangers of a small squad and that we need some more players because of injuries and suspensions.

"However, there is a strategy to go along with that and we have been waiting for the transfer window to make our move."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Danny Coyne has unexpectedly returned to Burnley after withdrawing from the Wales squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan.

The former Leicester City stopper tweaked a hamstring in the last training session before the flight out and will now undergo treatment on the injury at Turf Moor.

Coyne does, however, hope to rejoin the Welsh squad on their return in preparation for next Wednesday's qualifying match against Northern Ireland at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.