BURNLEY manager Owen Coyle does not believe a close-season shortened by a successful play-off bid has hindered his progress in the transfer market.

Two lists of targets were drafted before last month’s trip to Wembley - one for life in the Premier League, and the other in the event of defeat in the final.

Coyle was delighted to discard the latter after Wade Elliott’s first-half wonder goal against Sheffield United secured their return to the top flight.

It was only then that the Scot could concentrate his efforts on a new intake for next season.

This time last year Burnley had already broken their transfer record by signing Martin Paterson for around £1.3million from Scunthorpe United, adding midfielder Kevin McDonald and full back Christian Kalvenes soon afterwards.

But while only one offer has so far been accepted - with Derby County this week agreeing a fee thought to be £500,000 plus add-ons for defender Tyrone Mears - Coyle does not believe they are playing catch-up.

In fact, the club are ahead of schedule after anticipating there would be no movements until July.

“The close season has flown in. Obviously because of the play-off final the season goes on a wee bit longer then everything else is shorter in terms of the recovery and preparation.

“But you wouldn’t have it any other way,” said the Burnley boss.

“Ordinarily, teams that win the play-off final are playing catch-up, but I don’t think that affects us as such, because when all’s said and done we’ll have the lowest budget in the Premier League by a mile, so it’s not as if we were missing out on players on huge salaries because we were never going to get any of them anyway.

“I’ve been looking to target players similar to last year, looking to get hungry players who want to aspire to be better, and maybe some who have a point to prove, and those who come within our remit in terms of our finance.

“Similar to last year I’m looking at that younger type.

“The difference this year is that, while last year we were looking at players who were capable of playing in the Championship and getting better, now, as difficult as it is, you have to make sure of your judgement that they’re able to play in the Premier League and get better.

“We know the nature of the Premier League.

“It’s packed with pace and power, and that’s what we would hope to add, little bits of pace to the team to help the lads we’ve got.

“They’ve done ever so well, and there’s no doubt they can hold their own in the Premier League, we have to make sure the ones who come in complement everything we’ve got.”