CHAIRMAN Barry Kilby has predicted a summer of change at Turf Moor, after Burnley failed to reach the play-offs at the first attempt following relegation from the Premier League last year.

As Saturday’s defeat to Leeds United left the Clarets facing another season in the Championship, attentions turned to how manager Eddie Howe wants to shape his squad in the summer for promotion assault next term.

The board has already backed the former Bournemouth boss, by opening the chequebook to sign striker Charlie Austin from Swindon Town and reuniting him with ex-Cherries midfielder Marvin Bartley in January. Both fees were undisclosed but, combined, are believed to have cost the club in the region of £1.5million.

And Kilby is predicting more movements once the season ends with Saturday’s visit of Cardiff City, whose home defeat to Middlesbrough on Monday ended their hopes of automatic promotion.

The Bluebirds will now have to fight it out in the play-offs, and the Burnley board is disappointed they won’t be joining them after targeting a top six finish at the start of the season.

In addressing shareholders at the club’s annual general meeting in December, the Clarets chairman said: “Our aim is the play-offs. That was our sensible expectation this season.

“If we don’t land in the play-offs, that will be deemed to be a failure in our eyes this year.

“Our aim is to be in that mix at the end of the season.

“We are trying to bounce back.”

However, after then manager Brian Laws was sacked later that month, following a home defeat to relegated Scunthorpe United, Kilby accepts it was a tall order for Howe to pick up the pace of their top six push in the second half of the season.

“It’s always difficult for anybody taking over mid-season and it’s a difficult division,” he said.

“There will be comings and goings in the summer I suspect, so there will be new players.”

But he insists they will tread carefully in the transfer market as parachute payments of £16m a season for the first two season are later halved.

“We’ve got to keep a weather eye on what our commitments are if you’re signing people on three-year contracts because they drop even further if you stay in the Championship,” said Kilby.

“Eddie’s very studied and precise on what he wants. He’s very thoughtful.

“He has to put his stamp on the team and get them to the fitness levels that he wants.

“I’m sure we will bring some new signings in as well.”

Meanwhile, Clarets’ boss Eddie Howe has offered new contracts to Wes Fletcher, Dominic Knowles, Alex-Ray Harvey and Alex MacDonald.

The four young prospects have all been offered 12-month deals to stay on at Turf Moor.

But second-year professionals Chris Lynch, Nik Kudiersky and Chris Anderson have been released, along with first-year pro Michael King.

“It’s tough to make these decisions,” said Howe.