THE transfer silence at Turf Moor, at the moment, is deafening.

In just two weeks’ time the holidays are over for the Clarets and the hard work begins.

Eddie Howe has told his players to report back for pre-season training on June 30. But as yet, there are no new faces to introduce to his squad.

It’s not for the want of trying, and having previously stated that he would prefer to have new signings in place in the summer, such inactivity in the market must be a source of frustration for the Burnley boss.

Time is ticking, but it’s not running out. It would seem, however, that funds might be.

Jason Shackell, Keith Treacy, Marlon Harewood and Jack Cork are among some of the targets identified, but the Clarets have yet to meet financial demands.

Although Howe has not spoken publicly of which areas he wishes to strengthen, defensive reinforcements are a priority, which is why they joined the race for Shackell.

While Derby have pushed hard for the Barnsley captain, Burnley have backed away.

Perhaps a rare outing for David Edgar, but a man of the match performance in the final game of last season – almost two years after Coyle signed him from Newcastle – has, as far as the board is concerned, acted as a deterrent in that department.

In addition, Leon Cort will be back after a loan spell at Preston, while Andre Bikey, Clarke Carlisle and Michael Duff still have a year still to run on their current contracts.

Or perhaps they are saving the bulk of their summer budget to make Cork a permanent signing.

Again a rival club is leading the bidding for the popular midfielder, but the emotional pull he feels towards Turf Moor could have the casting vote, and that seems to be what the board are relying on.

The competition for Treacy does not yet look as strong. Burnley haven’t met Preston’s valuation of the winger, but that doesn’t mean North End won’t lower the bar later.

Things ARE happening behind the scenes.

Two new backroom staff members arrived yesterday and, at Howe’s behest, work has begun on a much-needed upgrade of Gawthorpe (albeit a scaled down version of the plans which were proposed in 2007 as part of the multi-million pound stadium redevelop-ment, which was then hit by the recession and still hasn’t got off the ground).

None of the improvements to the pitches, changing rooms and recreational facilities are thought to be making a big dent in the budget.

But when it comes to the squad itself there is a much more cautious approach in this transfer market than others in the last three years or so and it could be perceived that Howe is suffering the fallout of some poor acquisitions in the past, despite benefiting from the second installment of parachute payments.

Money was certainly squandered by Coyle. The well-paid Remco van der Schaaf, for example, has only just come off the wage bill after three years and only one appearance.

And don’t forget Diego Penny, Fernando Guerrero, Richard Eckersley and, to an extent, Kevin McDonald, who faded badly, while it’s only now that Edgar could be given a real chance.

Money made in their Premier League season went towards repaying directors’ loans and wages. Laws also overspent in two transfer windows.

Howe was able to sign Charlie Austin and Marvin Bartley soon after his appointment in January, and both will surely start to demonstrate their potential at Championship level after a full pre-season.

The Burnley boss needs scope to make the team more his own now.

It seems unfair that he may have to sell his inheritance before he can buy.