EX-BLACKBURN Rovers and England midfielder Gordon Cowans was today linked to the vacant assistant manager post at Turf Moor.

Burnley have begun the search for a new number two and Cowans, Kenny Swain and Wille Donachie could be among the early frontrunners to replace Colin Harvey who returned to Everton yesterday.

Harvey, as the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed last night, has signed a five-year deal at Goodison Park and takes charge of Everton's Centre of Excellence.

Clarets manager Adrian Heath has already spoken to one potential target and remains confident of making a new appointment before the start of pre-season training.

Heath said: "There are a number of avenues I am pursuing and I'm anxious to make a rapid appointment.

"I've already approached one name and he has expressed very keen interest. There is a lot of interest."

Meanwhile, Heath is due to have further discussions with an experienced goalkeeper before the weekend.

Heath added: "I've had fruitful talks with a keeper who has played at the highest level in the game.

"He has had international experience and would prove a very big asset to us. "We are hoping to have an answer from him in the next couple of days."

Heath has been linked to Bradford City's Aidan Davison, but added: "There is nothing in that."

The Clarets manager needs an experienced deputy after number two Wayne Russell was handed a free transfer last month.

"I also want the new goalkeeper to provide competition for Marlon Beresford and to keep him on his toes," he added.

"Ideally, I want to bring two goalkeepers in because I need a promising young talent at youth level as well."

But Heath has firmly denied any transfer link with unsettled striker Fabian De Freitas. A report had linked the Osasuna striker with a £400,000 move to Turf Moor.

But it appears to be well wide of the mark with Heath stressing that the player is not in his thoughts as he plans his strategy for another Second Division promotion assault.

Heath observed: "The general manager of Osasuna is a very good friend of mine from my time at Espanol and I was speaking to him about four months ago when Fabian De Freitas' name cropped up.

"He said he had started the season quite brightly but had since faded away and there was talk of him coming back to England.

"But there was never any suggestion of the player joining Burnley. I don't know where this story has surfaced from but there is definitely no interest from us."

Burnley's Football in the Community scheme are running a series of Summer Holiday Soccer Schools next month, starting at Gawthorpe Training Ground from July 9-11. The school will also be running at other venues. Further details from 01282 700011.

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