GLEN Little and Andy Cooke have been rewarded for their performances in helping to keep Burnley in the Second Division with the offers of new improved contracts, writes PETE OLIVER.

Both players still have a year of their current agreements to run but player-manager Chris Waddle has recognised their value to the Clarets' cause with new three year deals.

"It's early stages but I have spoken to Andy Cooke and Glen Little and got an initial reaction and they will come back to me.

"They are going into the last year but basically what we are trying to do is put everybody around the same wage bracket," said Waddle.

The market value of both players has soared this season with Cooke hitting the 20-goal barrier with the brace that kept Burnley up on the final day of the season.

And Little has been a revelation on the right-hand side of midfield since coming into the side in January.

Waddle is obviously keen to secure their longer term futures at Turf Moor and the new offer will prevent Cooke leaving for nothing next summer under the Bosman ruling if he signs.

Paul Weller's form in the end-of-season run-in has also been reflected in the offer of a three-year deal after his current contract expires next month.

The trio are expected to mull over the terms during a short break but Waddle is likely to face further negotiations with them and the other players he offered contracts to when opening talks yesterday. Waddle put two-year deals to Gerry Harrison, Damian Matthew and Mark Winstanley and 12-month contracts to Jamie Hoyland, Chris Vinnicombe, Chris Woods, Tony Parks, Phil Eastwood and Gareth West.

Only reserve keeper Parks indicated straight away that he would be willing to accept the terms on offer and Waddle is hoping to hear from the others by the end of next week whether they are ready to sign.

I understand that several players will be looking for an enhanced deal if they opt to agree new deals and doubtless some will be testing the water under the Bosman ruling.

But Waddle said there would be some room for manouevre, adding: "We offered a few things to players who are going away to think on it.

"It was opening talks. I spoke to the board about what they decided to offer players. This is what has been offered and they will come back to us if they are not happy and we can haggle.

"There was nothing concrete and the only one who definitely said yes was Tony Parks. The others are going to go away and think about it."

Waddle does not expect Hoyland and Vinnicombe to take up their offers and Harrison, Matthew, Winstanley and Woods will also be free under the Bosman ruling to move to the other clubs if they want.

"Naturally it would be nice to keep the squad together but with the Bosman rule I don't know if other clubs have spoken to players," added the Burnley boss.

"All players will try and get the best they can, whether that be at Burnley or somewhere else.

"In modern football money talks. Sometimes you think the grass is greener on the other side and sometimes it is and sometimes it's not.

"Unless they are going up a division or to a bigger club in this division then I don't think they will be better off and I will be happy if they accept."

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