MICHAEL Duff will be a huge hit at Burnley, according to Cheltenham Town boss John Ward.

Central defender Duff trained with his new team mates for the first time yesterday after signing a three-year deal with the Clarets.

And Ward, formerly assistant manager at Burnley during Adrian Heath's reign, believes new Clarets chief Steve Cotterill has stolen a march on many of his First Division rivals by snapping up the 26-year-old Northern Ireland international.

He said: "The temptation for Michael was always a strong one and the bottom line is that we knew we were going to lose him.

"Most clubs in the two divisions above Cheltenham have been aware of him and have taken notice.

"He has good athleticism, is a good central defender and has been very consistent."

"He has definitely got what it takes to play at that level and I wish Michael nothing but the best.

"He's been a regular player in my team, but I understand there are other aspects to consider.

"I tried to persuade my chairman not to move him on, but because he only had 12 months to go on his contract, in six months' time he could do a pre-contract agreement with anybody.

"The lure of the First Division has been a big thing, something we just couldn't match - and he expressed a wish to go."

Cheltenham chairman Paul Baker revealed that Cotterill first tried to sign Duff for a bigger fee when he was appointed manager of Stoke City two years ago.

And after turning down another initial bid from Cotterill soon after his appointment as Clarets chief, Baker reluctantly agreed a nominal £30,000 fee at the third time of asking after learning Duff was prepared to play out the remaining year of his contract and then join Burnley for nothing.

Baker said: "Michael is anxious to pursue his career at the highest level he can and the chance to jump two divisions doesn't come often.

"We have always tried to be flexible, but he would have been a free agent in 12 months and I have it on good authority he would have walked away and gone to the same club he's going to now.

"We didn't want a player who was unhappy. We wanted to be fair to Michael and we felt the offer was reasonable.

"Michael was upset at the time and that weighed on our minds. Now he has a great opportunity to work with a manager he knows."

Cotterill now has three former Cheltenham employees on his books, with Duff joining first team coach Mark Yates and physio Andy Mitchell at Turf Moor.

And Duff, whose brother Shane remains at Whaddon Road, insisted: "If I'm honest, I said I wanted to go.

"It's a massive opportunity and a chance to test myself at a higher level, against the likes of Sunderland, Ipswich and Nottingham Forest."

"When the chance came to make the step up, I had to take it. Cheltenham have been brilliant to me because, when I started, I was a skinny, scrawny young lad who would go out onto the pitch and get kicked.

"I think I have improved with the club and now I have to carry that on. Steve was obviously one of the big factors in me coming up here.

"He knows what I'm about and if I don't perform, I know what will happen."