MANAGER Owen Coyle insists he will not gamble with Burnley’s future by making big money signings.

By the time compensation has been agreed for out-of-contract Newcastle defender David Edgar and Manchester United full back Richard Eckersley, Coyle’s summer spending will stand at around £5million, discounting add-ons, for his five new arrivals.

At £3m, a new club record, former Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher has cost the most.

And while Coyle has not ruled out the possibility of breaking that record again this summer, if finances allow, he will not break the bank.

Instead, the shrewd Clarets boss intends to stick with his policy of buying young players who can grow, as assets, with the club.

“When you look at the big scheme of things, the easiest thing from a selfish point of view in terms of a manager would be to go out and sign four or five players and cost the club big salaries and something we couldn’t cope with, but it would be remiss of me to do that in my duties as manager of the football club, and I won’t,” said Coyle.

“If it means that we put a team out that have to learn and learn quickly then that’s what we’ll do. But I’ve got no doubts these players can evolve.

“We haven’t got the finished article and many haven’t played at this level.

"Some have had fleeting exchanges at Premier League level, but it’s an unknown quantity.

"But what I know is that we have the desire and ability, I believe, to cope with that.”

But Coyle does not believe a prudent approach will make them any less competitive in the Premier League.

“We know in terms of finance and budgets we’re going to be miles away from anybody in the league but we can believe we can put a team on the pitch that’s good enough to grace the stage of the Premier League and get points,” he said.

“We want to hit the ground running - every team in the Premier League will want to do that and we’re no different.

"But it’s not about today or tomorrow, it’s making sure we put in place a team that I believe can get better year by year.

“We had a far better team last year than what I inherited, I’ll look to have a better team this year than I had last year, and so on.

“That’s the only way forward for this football club, otherwise you put yourself into the realms of financial ruin really.

"I believe you don’t have to have the biggest budgets to put a team in place that can compete at this level.”

Coyle, who has capped wages at £15,000 a week, added that his players must be credited for working to modest salaries, in comparison to those of their top flight counterparts.

“I wouldn’t say they’re recognised Premier League salaries,” said the Burnley boss.

“It’s our first year in the Premier League and obviously when we’re established then that might rise, but at this moment in time we just couldn’t do it from a financial point of view.

"So we’re trying to do as best we can and what I see fit for this football club to run well for years to come, and that’s the way we’ll go about it.

“I think we’ve shown we’re not looking for the quick fix of today or tomorrow, we’re trying to make sure that anything we put in place it’s a long-term plan for the longevity of the football club, and that it’s something we can cope with.”