TURF Moor crowd favourite Andy Cooke admitted it hadn't been a difficult decision to make the switch to Stoke City.

Cooke yesterday ended his five-and-a-half year stay with the Clarets to sign for the Second Division promotion-chasers in a £300,000 deal.

And despite his success and popularity at Burnley, the striker welcomed the chance to move on and resume his role as a front-line striker.

He said: "Leaving Burnley after all those years takes a bit of getting used to.

"But it wasn't a massive decision, even after everything that's happened over the years.

"Burnley was my first professional club and it's been brilliant that it was such a massive club and the things we've achieved.

"But the way things have gone recently it was probably right for a change. Some people in that position might have just sat around but I just want to play first team football."

Having been an automatic choice in the Clarets' attack for the best part of four seasons, during which he time he saved Burnley from the drop two years ago and then helped them to promotion in May, Cooke had lost his place in Stan Ternent's side in recent weeks. And he concurred with the manager's view that the time was right for a parting of the ways.

"I look at it as a new start and a new challenge," said Cooke, who joined Burnley from League of Wales side Newtown in May, 1995.

"It hasn't finished on a sour note but I was out of contract in the summer and out of the side so it was probably the right time for me and the club.

"Burnley are up there which is what they want. It's sometimes disappointing when you're not part of it but that's sometimes how it works out.

"Everyone has said I've been a loyal servant of the club and that's very important.

"I would hate to leave by playing badly or falling out and leaving on bad terms. But it hasn't been like that and that wouldn't be right."

Cooke, who links up again with former Clarets loan keeper Gavin Ward, went straight into the Stoke squad for their home game against struggling Luton Town today.

The Potters have been long-standing admirers of the 26-year-old striker and finally got the go-ahead to start talks with the player late on Thursday.

A three-and-a-half year deal was agreed yesterday and sixth-placed City are now looking to Cooke, whose family home at Market Drayton is only 20 miles from Stoke, to help bring First Division football back to the Britannia Stadium.

He added: "I know it's a hard division and if anything I'm probably thinking 'what have I let myself in for?'

"But Stoke are another very, very big club, who are well supported and very similar to Burnley in many ways. And there wasn't a massive lot to think about with me knowing so much about the club.

"They've seen me play many times and they just said that with my experience and with everything that happened last year with playing in this division they couldn't believe the chance had come around to get me and when it did they were really pleased."

Cooke's total commitment and eye for goal are likely to go down well with the passionate Stoke supporters after he swiftly won over the Clarets faithful in a similar manner.

"I've got a lot of friends at Burnley with the players and some past players and I've been very lucky with the fans.

"Over five-and-a-half seasons I have had a very good rapport with the crowd.

"I've got a lot of good things to take from Burnley. I wouldn't change a day of it and I'd like to thank everyone," he added.