BURNLEY goalkeeper Marlon Beresford is holding out on a new Turf Moor contract offer.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph can reveal that Turf Moor chief Adrian Heath has opened preliminary contract negotiations with the £1 million-pound rated goalkeeper.

But Beresford - whose two-year Turf Moor deal expires in the summer - has so far refused to put pen to paper.

Heath explained: "I've talked with Marlon about a contract and I've offered to sit down with him and discuss a new deal.

"I've made him an initial offer. But Marlon has indicated that he is keeping his options open at the moment.

"It is a delicate situation. But I'd like to think that he would sign up and decide to stay with Burnley. He is a goalkeeper with a lot of talent and we want to keep him at Turf Moor." Beresford is among several first team stars who will be out of contract at Turf Moor come the end of the season.

Heath, though, is clearly pinning his hopes on trying to persuade one of Burnley's biggest assets to sign on the dotted line before the start of next season.

Beresford - who was linked with a move to Premiership Arsenal in 1994 - has only recently returned to the Burnley first team following a six-week lay-off following double hernia surgery.

But, rated as one of the finest goalkeepers in the Endsleigh League, Burnley's number one would be sure to attract plenty of keen interest if he decided his future was away from Turf Moor.

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