BORN-AGAIN Burnley defender Graham Branch has revealed he almost quit the club to escape the boo-boys.

Branch, who earlier this week signed a new contract, recently sealed his Turf Moor transformation by picking up two Player of the Year awards.

The Liverpool-born utility man initially struggled to win over sections of the Turf Moor faithful in his first few seasons following a free transfer switch from Stockport in December 1998.

Versatile Branch, 31, finally won over the majority through his efforts last season, even though the Clarets' campaign fizzled out in frustration.

And after signing up for two-more years the former Tranmere ace admitted he was on the verge of walking away last year when the dissenting voices were at their peak.

Branch said: "Most of the fans have been brilliant with me, but at one stage I wasn't very happy with the stick I was taking from some of them. I'd had enough and was very close to leaving the club.

"It was early in 2002 following a game against Sheffield Wednesday. I had just come back from injury and was substituted by the gaffer at half time after being booed constantly for one mistake I made.

"I went in to see him on the Monday morning to tell him how I felt and he was great with me.

"He said I could either give in and leave, or rise above it and prove the knockers wrong. "He told me to go away for a couple of days to think about it and once I did that, I realised I needed to stay and battle it out.

"I've never been one to turn my back on anything and I so wanted to prove the fans who had been getting on my back wrong.

"In the end, it was a good decision and one I feel I've totally justified with my form last season."

Branch was one of the few success stories from a torrid end to the last campaign, and puts his revival down to his relationship with manager Stan Ternent.

The much-improved defender added: "The gaffer has been brilliant in all this. My record under many of the manager's I've worked under hasn't been all that good, but I feel I have a good working relationship with him and that has been a great comfort.

"Right now, this is probably the happiest I've ever been at a club. In the past I've had niggly little injuries that have held me back, but I feel I probably played some of the best football of my career at Burnley last season."

Meanwhile, Burnley today denied reports that former Manchester United defender Lee Roche has become Ternent's latest signing.

However the Clarets are closing on his signature and hope to complete a move before the week is out.