WITH Sky having decided to show our game against West Bromwich Albion last night, the weekend afforded a rare opportunity for Burnley supporters to relax.

It's not often you can say that. But last week's resounding defeat of Norwich City removed any uncertainty that the Clarets would be playing Championship football when season 2007-08 kicks off next August.

Which meant that we could all put our feet up and watch Leeds United stumbling towards League One (fan mail to the usual address please, Whites' fans).

So with safety guaranteed, thoughts naturally begin to turn to the next campaign, and specifically areas of the team which need strengthening prior to August.

Steve Cotterill has his own thoughts: "I think we need five players in the summer - five positions I would like to be better in," he said. "If we could do them it would be a decent squad with good competition."

For my money, a number of areas of the squad require strengthening. In goal, Coyne is injury-prone and has failed to convince. The Beast is a solid enough keeper, but to paraphrase the previous manager, tends to throw one in a row now and again.

Right-back is another priority. Thomas, Duff and the departed Sinclair have all had a go this season with varying degrees of success.

Yet the position is a specialist one. Not only that, but it is a shame to play Duff out of position, when he has performed so well at centre-half.

In midfield we need some physical presence.

James O'Connor is as tenacious a competitor as there is. But Burnley lack a big, strapping central midfielder to intimidate the opposition and enforce control in the middle of the pitch. But it is up front where the Clarets are particularly light.

Andy Gray is capable of 20 goals a season in this league, yet he cannot be expected to carry the burden all on his own. As for the others, the jury is still out on Ade Akinbiyi.

And while Kyle Lafferty is likely to continue his learning curve next season, it would be unwise to expect him to transform into a 20-a-season striker between now and next August.

The problem is, of course, that goal-scorers are the game's most precious commodity. They rarely end up at clubs who are strapped for cash.

We can only hope that Brendan Flood is in generous mood this summer.