GRAHAM Branch has ended speculation over his footballing future by agreeing to sign a new two-year deal with Burnley.

The versatile defender has been locked in talks with Clarets chief Stan Ternent all summer long to thrash out the finer details of a new Turf Moor contract.

And Ternent should finally get his man later today as Branch, whose current deal expired at the end of last season, finally puts pen to paper.

Ternent said: I have been speaking to Graham for six or seven weeks and we still have one or two little things to iron out.

"But we are more or less sorted now and I will see him today to get him signed up."

Branch has been the subject of much conjecture over the past two months as several clubs continued to keep a close watch on his lengthy contract negotiations.

Former club Tranmere and First Division rivals Rotherham had both expressed an interest in signing the 31-year-old, who finally won over a small faction of dissenting Burnley fans with an impressive campaign last season.

But Branch, who expects to play at centre half next season, always insisted staying with Burnley was his number one choice.

He added: "This is probably the happiest I've ever been at a club. In the past I've had problems with some of the managers I've worked with and also with 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 and I wanted to carry that on.

Relieved Ternent should now be able to put all his efforts into adding to his limited pool of players.

The Clarets currently have just 15 recognised first-team players on their books following the 15 departures of the past few months.

Branch added: "It's going to be a very hard season for most teams, because the overall standard in Division One next season is very good.

"The gaffer has hard month ahead of him, but I'm sure all that work will come good in the end."