BURNLEY'S out-of-contract players face a mid-week date of destiny to see if they have a future at Turf Moor.

Clarets manager Stan Ternent is currently talking to his squad members whose current deals expire at the end of June.

And after informing the players as to who will and won't be part of his long-term plans he will step up his moves towards building for next season.

"I have a retained list to sort out which will be due on Thursday or Wednesday and there will be a few people leaving the club and I will be hoping to bring a few in," confirmed Ternent.

"That's the hard part of the job, or the sad part of the job, when you have to tell people that you won't be offering them a contract.

"But it's an important part of it and if I can get what I want then hopefully at the start of next season we can carry on where we left off this last few games."

Burnley signed off with a 2-2 draw at Northampton on Saturday which extended their unbeaten run to a remarkable 11 games and ensured them of a 15th-place finish in the Second Division. That represented a stunning turn-around after the Clarets had slumped into the relegation places after losing at home to Preston on March 14 - their last defeat.

The out-of-contract players who featured at the Sixfields Stadium, where Northampton's relegation was confirmed, were full-backs Tom Cowan and Ally Pickering, central defender Brian Reid and midfielder Mark Robertson.

Schemer Paul Cook has also reached the end of his loan spell from Stockport County and his long-term future will also be sorted out this week.

Reid and Robertson have been offered deals but are yet to reply, while Ternent also faces decisions over the likes of Ronnie Jepson, Peter Swan, Neil Moore, Mark Ford, Steve Morgan, Kevin Henderson, Phil Eastwood, Carl Smith, Colin Carr-Lawton, Frank Kval, Paul Graham and Gareth West.

A fairly major re-shuffle could therefore be on the cards as Ternent bids to build on the Clarets storming finish and introduce more new faces to mount a promotion challenge next term.

He added: "I need more competition for places which will protect us to a degree from the injuries and suspensions and certainly from a loss of form because if they get out of the side they might not get back in it.

"That's what I'm looking for and I think all Burnley fans are looking for that.

"We have finished the season well and the hard work starts to prepare for next season." Goals from Andy Cooke and a Paul Cook penalty, which the Cobblers were unfortunate to concede, confirmed Burnley's new-found reputation as one of the toughest sides to beat.

Their last two away draws have also been achieved without key men Steve Davis and Andy Payton, while Lenny Johnrose missed Saturday's game after finally giving in to a calf injury.

However, all three are on the road to recovery after Davis successfully underwent hernia surgery and scans showed no serious damage to either Payton (thigh) or Johnrose.

Paul Weller is also on the road to recovery after the last of his stomach operations which have decimated his season.

"By the start of next season hopefully we will have a clean bill of health," said Ternent, who hasn't been able to say that too often since he took over last June.

Burnley's draw at Northampton, coupled with wins for Oldham and Wycombe, confirmed the Cobblers relegation to Division Three, alongside Macclesfield, Lincoln and York City.

York, who lost 4-0 at Manchester City, were sent down by Oldham's 2-0 win over Reading and Wycombe's 1-0 victory at Lincoln which completed an amazing escape by Lawrie Sanchez's men.

The last play-off place in Division Two went to Wigan after they beat Chesterfield and Bournemouth were held at home by Wrexham. Wigan will now play Manchester City, while Preston meet Gillingham.

Burnley 'A' went to the top of the Lancashire League when they beat Leek Town reserves in their final game of the season on Saturday. However, Tranmere would lift the title if they beat Leek in their last game today.

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