LEIGHTON James believes Burnley can use Swansea City’s promotion to the Premier League as an inspiration as they bid to return to the top flight next season.

The Clarets finished eighth during the 2010/11 campaign, missing out on the play-offs by two places, but Swansea had a similar disappointment a year ago before going on to gain promotion in the play-off final.

James, who was in the last Swansea side to play in the top flight in 1983, was at Wembley to see Brendan Rodgers’ side beat Reading 4-2 and now hopes that another of his old clubs can join the Swans in the Premier League in a year’s time.

“Burnley are now in a very similar scenario to where Swansea were 12 months ago, just missing out on the play-offs,” said the 58-year-old, who had three spells with the Clarets between 1970 and 1989.

“I think Burnley can use Swansea as an example, they can look at them.

“Swansea are a similar sized club and Burnley can use that disappointment of not making the play-offs and learn from it, then hopefully next season they can push on and get promoted.

“When I was at Burnley we were relegated from the First Division in 1970/71, then we were mid-table in the Second Division in 1971/72 and won the league in 1972/73.

“The thing is not to panic, not to panic buy but just add to what you've got. Burnley’s transfer business this summer will be so important.

“Swansea didn't change their squad much at all last summer because they had a change of manager and Brendan Rodgers came in quite late, in July.

“They kept players like Stephen Dobbie, Angel Rangel and Dorus de Vries and added to it with Scott Sinclair and Fabio Borini from Chelsea, and Nathan Dyer had a really good season.

“Swansea had quite a slow start to the season but Brendan didn’t panic and try to change things too quickly.

“He had a good look at the players he had and then looked to add to it.

“They maybe didn't have the best individuals, certainly you could use Cardiff as an example side who had a lot of good individual players, but Swansea had that team spirit.

“Monday was a proud day for everyone connected to Swansea.

“I think Burnley will be disappointed not to have made the play-offs but I hope they can do it next season.

“It would be really nice to maybe see them play Swansea in the Premier League. I would certainly be an interested spectator for that match!”

But James knows the promotion race will be as fierce as ever next season, with a number of sides setting their sights on a place in the top flight.

“The Championship will be a tough league,” he said.

“Cardiff, Forest and Reading, the three teams who missed out in the play-offs, will want to challenge and the three teams who have come down, West Ham, Blackpool and Brimingham will be keen to go straight back up.

“Then there will be Leeds and Burnley who will be desperate to be in there, so there will be eight to 10 teams.

“Burnley weren't quite good enough this season, the league table doesn’t lie, but I'm sure Eddie Howe will have looked at which players are good enough and which aren't, maybe look to let go the ones who aren't and then have targets to bring in.

“Eddie came in when Brian Laws left in the middle of the season and to call it a bedding in period would be wrong, but I think everyone knew it was going to take time.

“But I think they will be looking at play-offs minimum next season.”