BURNLEY are one of three clubs to have expressed an interest in Sunderland's out-of-contract midfield player Martin Smith.

The 24-year-old Wearsider has decided to leave the Stadium of Light because of a lack of opportunities in the first team.

And Burnley, Notts County and West Bromwich Albion have already been in touch.

"It's early days yet but I am looking forward to playing a decent number of games with a good club," said Smith.

"It will be a huge wrench to leave and I will miss Sunderland like mad but I have just had no chance in the first team."

Available on a free transfer under Bosman, Smith was once described by Sunderland boss Peter Reid as "the most-talented footballer" at the club.

Turf Moor boss Stan Ternent has already confirmed an interest in another Sunderland player, John Mullin.

And he remains hopeful of getting Paul Cook from Stockport.

But he dismssed claims today that he had lodged a £100,000 bid for Cook, who had a very successful loan spell at Burnley whichTernent would like to turn into a permanent move.

But the player is still under contract and that complicates matters.

Sources close to Edgeley Park said today they believed that Burnley were preparing to pay up to six figures for the Liverpool-born Cook, who will be 32 next month. But Ternent shrugged it off and is more likely to try to get his man on a free transfer.

"I don't know whether they will ask a fee for him or not," said the manager. "He has a year to run on his contract and once that is sorted out we will try to take it from there. I would like to add him to the squad and I think Paul would like to come here.

"But there is still a lot of stuff to be done."

The manager also denied a report that he was interested in Neil Aspin, the central defender released by Port Vale.

Meanwhile, Turf Moor's new undersoil heating system will be up-and-running next season as part of a further six-figure investment in pitch improvements and ground repairs at Burnley.

The system's pipes were installed when the Clarets playing surface was relaid last summer.

And the boiler which allows the heating to be fully functional is expected to be fitted by the end of the summer.

In addition, the pitch drainage system introduced 12 months ago is being extended to cure a problem area in front of the Bob Lord Stand which should solve any difficulties with standing water.

"We should not lose any games to frozen pitches and hopefully with the drainage working properly and the heating running we wil be postponement-proof," said Clarets director Cilve Holt.

The only reason for calling a game off in extreme weather, therefore, will be if the police deem the public access areas unsafe for supporters. Burnley's pitch held up extremely well last season after the problems of the previous year when it became bare and difficult to pass the ball on. "If we had not done the work we could have been in deep trouble and could have ended up with the kind of fixture congestion Wigan had, which wouldn't have helped at all," added Holt. The pitch will be further enhanced by running repairs and re-seeding during the close season.

Further ground improvements taking place include replacing the cinder 'running track' around the pitch with a red tarmacadam surface.

And as well as removing an old boiler Bob Lord had installed to heat the cricket field stand, a new hot water boiler is being fitted to eradicate the kind of problem that struck once last season when the players were forced to have cold showers after a game.

Ex-Burnley defender Mark Winstanley has been released by Preston North End.

Former Burnley number two John Ward has agreed a new two-year deal with Wolves as assistant to manager Colin Lee.

Lee was offered a contract until the end of the season with former Bristol City boss Ward linking up with him in December.

Wolves lost just two of their final 21 league games and finished the season in seventh place, narrowly behind Watford and Bolton who contest the play-off final at Wembley on May 31.

A 'strong' Burnley side is due to take on Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground on July 29, kick-off 7.30pm.

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