BURNLEY'S training ground will not be a closed shop under the new Clarets regime of Stan Ternent and Sam Ellis.

On the day the duo were appointed, Ternent told fans that the Gawthorpe training complex would not be open house for spectators to watch coaching sessions.

But the management team have revised that on-the-spot decision and fans will be welcome to watch the players go through their paces - most of the time.

"The last thing we want to do is ban them," confirmed Ternent. "They are welcome to come as long as they stand and watch.

"If they want to come down that's fine, we just don't want them to get on top of training."

There will, however, be certain sessions that Ternent will want to keep behind closed doors and away from the public eye in the build-up to matches.

He said: "We just ask if they will respect our wishes on odd days when we are doing something a bit different."

Ternent's change of tack will delight the Burnley fans who had voiced their disappointment at not being able to see the players working on their game through the week. "We want them to be part of it. We are all in it together and we want the same thing for Burnley Football Club," added the Clarets' boss.

Burnley full-back Chris Vinnicombe has turned down a move to former club Exeter City.

Vinnicombe, who is expected to leave Turf Moor this summer despite the offer of a further year's contract, was offered a deal by City boss Peter Fox.

But the left-sided defender, who left Exeter to join Glasgow Rangers in a big money move in 1989, will not be going back to St James's Park.

A disappointed Fox said: "The reasons for Chris's decision were purely financial but I know the other clubs who are interested in him and in my opinion he won't be bettering himself by joining any of them.

"Whenever I speak to players I say what I can offer and that's it. Finances are tight here and I can only afford to offer so much."

Vinnicombe has also spoken to Walsall and while he planned to talk to Ternent before making a final decision on his future, it's likely that he will be starting the new season elsewhere.

Without Vinnicombe, Burnley are without a natural left-back with Mark Winstanley, Paul Weller and Paul Smith all filling the role on occasions last season. Ternent is sure to address the problem this summer and it will be interesting to see if Bury left back Bryan Small is a name that figures in his thinking.

Ternent brought the former Aston Villa and Bolton defender to Gigg Lane and although offered a new deal at Bury he is available under the Bosman ruling.

Dave Merrington, the former Burnley player who had expressed an interest in returning to Turf Moor as Chris Waddle's successor, has been appointed youth team coach at Leeds. The ex-Southampton boss was assistant to former Burnley manager Jimmy Adamson at Elland Road in the 1970s.

Season ticket holders have until 1pm on Saturday to reclaim their existing seats for next season. Any unclaimed seats will go on general sale from Monday.

Anyone who has purchased tickets and have not received their books can collect them from the Turf Moor ticket office.

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