FORWARD thinking Burnley boss Steve Cotterill wants to jump the queues and start his summer rebuilding in the springtime!

Cotterill does not intend to hang around in spending some of the £4million raised from what he describes as a "remarkable season".

Already, unsettled Stoke City striker Ade Akinbiyi has been approached over a potential £600,000 move to Turf Moor, with Cotterill still hopeful of putting forward his case over a table later this week.

But the Clarets chief has ruled out short-term loan deals to plug the defensive holes left by injured duo Frank Sinclair and John McGreal.

Cotterill, who has worked miracles with the smallest squad in the Championship, said: "This has been a remarkable season.

"We have more than cemented ourselves in the division and yet sold £2.75m of players, brought in over £1m from the FA Cup and over £250,000 from the Carling Cup.

"I think the club is in quite a healthy position and what else could you wish for going into March?

"We know what we need to make the side stronger and, unfortunately, I think the summer will be a busy time for me.

"But I want to try to do things before the end of the season as I don't want to find I am in the same situation as last year.

"Obviously we have (out of contract) players who we will be talking to, but we need to get 50 points first and that will dictate a lot."

He added: "Long term, we are on with things for midfield player and strikers. We have got a bid in for Akinbiyi and we are hoping to speak to him sometime this week.

"It's obviously been a busy time for us and I have to try to bide my time and try to find a slot that suits him and us."

Akinbiyi has already had talks with Sheffield United after they also had a six-figure bid accepted by Stoke.

But Cotterill added: "I can't comment on what has gone on elsewhere, but we would like the opportunity to sit down and talk about his future."

Meanwhile, Sinclair and McGreal are both likely to miss tonight's game at Derby - the third of four successive away games in the Championship.

Cotterill said: "They are struggling, but we won't be looking at loan players there because when they are fit again they go straight back in the team and you have wasted a loan.

"If I go and get another defender, they are not going to be as good as those two.

"There is more of a need for long-term, but if you buy someone in contract now you are easily talking about £3-400,000."