Clarets keeper Marlon Beresford has agreed a long term deal at Turf Moor that will keep him at the club until the ned of the season.

The 33-year-old agreed the deal ahead today's game with Coventry City.

He been resigned on a month-to-month contract virtually all season long as ide from a short spell with third division York City at the start of the campaign.

Beresford said: "I'm happy to sign and the club are happy, so it keeps me here until the end of the season.

"I was fed up with the month-to-month thing and I think the club were as well, so we can go on from here and hopefully sort something more long term out."

Clarets boss Stan Ternent was also pleased to have got his man.

"We sorted it out before training and Marlon is here until the end of the season now and we hope to make that more permanent.

"From my point of view and the club's point of view it means Marlon is here until the end of the season at worst, when we can have a look at it again.

"All round, I think it's a good deal for both parties."

Meanwhile, the Football League is continuing to have discussions with the PFA in an attempt to move towards players' wages making up only 60 per cent of each club's budget.

Clarets chief executive Andrew Watson said: "We are moving towards that ratio at Burnley but there is no way the players can be blamed.

"They have negotiated the best deals that they can and the only problem is the circumstances that have followed the collapse of ITV Digital.

"Gordon Taylor (PFA chief executive) has been very good and very understanding about our situation and the need to make changes but he has also been keen to stress that the aim has to make savings across the board.

"A lot of clubs have debt problems because they have taken out securities or built new grounds and the PFA wants all those costs taken into account.

"At Burnley we are well aware that the players are the most important part of the club, they are the ones that supporters want to come and see, they are the people that entertain on a Saturday afternoon."

Watson is confident that the club is now on a strong financial footing following the agreement of a two year holiday for creditors as well as money backing from the board.

"The creditors have agreed not to take any repayments until January 2005 and that is obviously a very big boost," he said.

"In addition the directors take a lot of credit for their commitment to the club because it has cost them a lot of money, personally.

"The chairman (Barry Kilby) has put in another £1million while the directors have given a £1million guarantee.

"It has been areal team effort to get the club back on track with Ray Ingleby playing a prominent part as well as club secretary Cathy Pickup and our accountant Roger Spencer.

"But a big thank you is also owed to the fans because they continue to support us off the pitch as well as on it.

"The fact is that they support the commercial side of the club and as a result we have one of the biggest commercial turnovers in the first division. All departments are functioning well and are above budget, which is credit to the fans."

The ever growing off the field activities, combined with successful runs in both knockout competitions this season, have been vital this season given the £4million shortfall from loss of television.

There is still much work to be done and all debts will have to be repaid but, a strong run until the end of the season and hope of more Cup success, should help the Clarets avoid the major problems suffered by so many other clubs.