PROLIFIC striker Andy Cooke is in no rush to sign his new contract at Turf Moor.

But the good news for Clarets fans is that Cooke is not expecting to leave the club and has already set his sights on getting among the goals for Burnley next season.

Cooke's reward for a 20-goal season was the offer of a new improved three year deal to replace his current agreement which still has 12 months to run.

But the 23-year-old crowd favourite, whose two goals against Plymouth on the last day of the campaign kept Burnley up, has time on his side as he maps out his long-term future.

"I have got another year to go with my original contract so I am not signing anything in due course.

"I am just waiting to see what happens with the new management," said Cooke.

Whoever is named as Chris Waddle's successor as Burnley boss within the next week is certain to want Cooke as part of his plans for an assault on a Second Division promotion spot.

And Cooke, who has in the past attracted the interest of Crewe and Bristol City, stressed: "I am under contract and as far as I know I will start next season. I am getting ready for next season."

When the 24-year-old forward's current contract expires next June he will be a free agent under the Bosman ruling which will make Burnley extra keen to tie up his future some time over the next 12 months.

But Cooke insisted that he is not waiting for that clause to cash in on a move with the effects of the Bosman judgement still something of an unknown quantity at this level.

"The main thing is security," he added. Cooke remains one of Burnley's most valuable assets and deserves to be rewarded with a contract in line with the club's leading earners.

His goals came at a rate of better than one every two starts as he spent time out of the first 11 due to injury, suspension and Waddle's pairing of Paul Barnes and Gerry Creaney.

"Looking at the position and what I did this year it was more a matter of they had to offer me something," he said. Burnley midfielder Glen Little is in the same position as Cooke as he was also offered a new three-year deal on the back of an outstanding season.

And he is also likely to be seeing how the land lies after the summer re-shuffles before commiting himself long-term.

But with both players still under contract and available for next season, the board and new manager will have more pressing problems.

The futures of out-of-contract players Gerry Harrison, Paul Weller, Damian Matthew, Mark Winstanley, Jamie Hoyland and Chris Vinnicombe need to be thrashed out as the manager will want to know who he can plan with and who he can't.

And in turn players like Weller are likely to be clearer about their plans once they know where they figure in the new manager's scheme of things.

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