PAUL Weller was hoping to seal his Burnley future today after spending almost three weeks in a hospital bed, writes PETE OLIVER.

Weller was hit by a stomach problem towards the end of last season but the illness really flared up during the Clarets' end-of-season Football in the Community trip to Cyprus.

Physio Nick Worth identified the complaint and booked Weller into Burnley General Hospital on his return and after 19 days of treatment the player was expecting to be discharged to meet Stan Ternent for contract talks today.

Weller has been offered a three-year deal by Burnley and after a storming finish to last season could be a key figure in Ternent's plans.

The 23-year-old is one of the club's brightest young players and is keen to continue his development at Turf Moor.

Speaking to me in hospital prior to his release, Weller confirmed: "The manager rang me last week and said he would like to speak to me as soon as I get out.

"Hopefully we can sort something out. I would like to stay."

If Weller and the club can agree terms, a new contract would signal the end of a worrying period for the player who has been on an intensive course of antibiotics and yesterday when we spoke was having a top up of blood prior to his anticipated release.

"I played with it last season but had no problem. It was more of a problem as soon as the season finished. It was getting sore so they brought me in to clear it out," he added. Weller's target now is to be back ready for pre-season on July 7 to state his case for a place in the starting line-up against Bristol Rovers a month and a day later.

"I have been told to rest for a week and then do a bit of running and I will definitely be back for pre-season. I should be okay after having eight or nine weeks off," said the Brighton-born Weller who will be recuperating with his family on the south coast.

The midfield man started nearly 40 games for the Clarets last season and played a number of different roles - scoring two of the best goals of the campaign at Grimsby and at Oldham.

Originally a midfielder, Weller also played at right-back when Chris Brass was injured and was labelled "a natural full-back" by then manager Chris Waddle.

His versatility should continue to be a welcome asset and if Ternent plays with five at the back with Brass as one of the central defenders then it's possible that Weller could be earmarked for a the right wing-back role.

If Weller, who started his career as a trainee at Turf Moor, puts pen to paper he will follow Mark Winstanley in agreeing new terms as things start to fall into shape for the new season.

Meanwhile, Burnley have recived official confirmation from Peter Shackleton's investors of the reasons behind the takeover delay.

Shackleton's backers, an oil/minerals company with reserved assets valued at a conservative £750 million dollars, are involved in a major merger.

Solictors are still arguing over the terms of their 'up front' £1 million loan.

The arrival of that cash would buy Shackleton's camp more time while their own merger is completed.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.