WADE Elliott and Garreth O'Connor today admitted the opportunity to join Burnley was too good to resist.

The Bournemouth duo yesterday agreed to sign three-year-deals on Bosman free transfers as Clarets boss Steve Cotterill kick-started his summer rebuilding programme with a bang.

And after the Cherries dramatically missed out on the League One play-offs on the final day of the season, the 26-year-olds insisted they were eager to jump at the chance of playing Championship football at Turf Moor next season.

Right winger Elliott, who Burnley fans will recall gave departing full back Mo Camara a torrid time in the FA Cup tie between the two sides last January, insisted: "I have had chances to move in the past but they didn't suit me on a footballing level. This one does and the fact that Garreth is joining Burnley too is a real bonus.

"I'm excited about the chance to prove myself at a higher level and it didn't take too long to decide when the chance arose because I am ambitious and I want to test myself in the Championship."

The former Bashley wide man, who cost Bournemouth just £15,000 in 2000, went on to score 37 goals in 257 appearances for the Cherries.

His decision to defer studies in sociology and communications to chance his arm was rewarded when he was named player of the year in his first season at Dean Court.

Elliott, whose cult status even saw him immortalised on disc, when supporters recorded the song 'The Ballad of Wade Elliott', added: "I'm looking forward to a new challenge.

"I know I'm not going to walk into the Burnley team, but I back my own ability and we must be in the manager's plans if he's gone out of his way to sign us."

Dublin-born O'Connor, who shares his surname with current Clarets midfielder James, was also being tracked by Preston North End and Championship new boys Hull City.

And the former Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians midfielder, who scored a career-best 14 goals last season to earn the player of the year award, intends to make up for lost time after seeing the Cherries pipped in the play-off race.

O'Connor, who joined the south coast club in 2000, said: "I was gutted that Bournemouth didn't make the play-offs because I would love to have gone up with them.

"But I want to play at a higher level. I've had a good season and I want to try to improve myself as a player and I had to move to do that.

""Missing out on the play-offs was a bitter blow, but hopefully it's onwards and upwards for me now.

"I heard there were a couple of clubs interested, but as soon as I spoke to Burnley, I wanted to come here. I got a phone call last week from my agent and he told me about the interest from Burnley.

"I got to meet Steve Cotterill and he told me his plans and everything seemed really good. I was very interested and it went on from there.

"I'm very impressed with Burnley and I'm looking forward to doing well next season.

"Bournemouth offered me a very good deal to stay, but I just want to test myself at a higher level."

Both players will formally sign three-year contracts when they become free agents on July 1 and Clarets boss Cotterill insisted: "I am delighted to agree contracts with both Wade and Garreth.

"They are two lads that I know very well and they are in the same bracket as Michael Duff, who I said was a 'calculated risk'.

"I mean that in the nicest possible sense, in that I think they are capable of stepping up a level and I hope they can both play as well as they did the last time they visited Turf Moor."