BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent has some big decisions to make in the next couple of weeks as he prepares to sign some key players.

But that does not mean there will be new faces at Turf Moor, he is simply having to decide which of the nine players who are out of contract in the summer are to get a new deal.

Talks over new deals were put on hold until the club had a better idea of what the budget would be for next season but following the elimination from the FA Cup the picture is now a little clearer.

Chairman Barry Kilby said: "We are coming to that time when contracts will have to be sorted out. Stan will be given the budget he has to work with and as the manager it will be up to him to decide who he wants to keep and who he will let go."

But he has warned that if the gates in the final six home games of the season, starting today against Grimsby, are as disappointing as the one against Leicester in midweek it will have an immediate impact for the boss.

"What happens this season decides where we start from," he explained. "Our concern is that if the crowds are like Tuesday we are going to beas much as £10,000 down in each of the last six games.

"All those factors come into play when we are sorting out deals."

The extended cup runs have been vital but even they have not filled the gaping £4million hole in funds that was left after the collapse of ITV Digital.

It is the first time in his five seasons at Turf Moor that Ternent has not bought a single player, the only new faces being Marlon Beresford and Drissa Diallo who were both out of contract.