FORMER Claret Martin Dobson believes ‘wise recruitment’ has been a key part of the Burnley’s success to date, as the club begin the search to replace Joey Barton.

The fans’ player of the year left Turf Moor this week after opting to sign a two-year contract with Scottish giants Rangers instead of staying on with the Clarets for their return to the Premier League.

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He made 37 consecutive league starts for Sean Dyche’s side as they won the Championship title, but replacing a key cog in a team is nothing new for Burnley, who saw captain Jason Shackell and star men Danny Ings and Kieran Trippier leave last summer.

Burnley responded to those departures with an immediate return to the top flight as Matt Lowton and Andre Gray filled the void left by Trippier and Ings.

And the ability to bring in suitable replacements, as well as other players, has been a major part of the Turf Moor success story according to Dobson.

“When Danny and Trips left you thought that’s two of the better players gone, it’s going to be tough this season,” he said. “But the recruitment has been very good, it’s wise recruitment.

“Andre Gray came in, he’d nearly gone to Bristol City, it was a record fee for Burnley. It was an inspired signing.

“That put a question mark on him to replace Danny but he was brilliant.”

The departed Barton praised the ‘phenomenal’ culture at Burnley before heading north of the border and Dobson, who made 494 appearances for the Clarets, believes the togetherness fostered inside the dressing room has played its part in a second promotion to the Premier League in three years under Dyche.

“If you look at what they’ve done, the work ethic, the togetherness of the players is so important,” said Dobson.

“They obviously like each other in the dressing room and are really fighting for each other, but that’s because of the manager bringing those players in.

“The talent is good, the attitude and discipline is right and there’s been a lot of hard work on the training ground to get the organisation.

“The chance of playing in the Premier League again next season is great. They’ve got experience from that 12 months ago.

“I remember going to the Etihad that time (to play Manchester City) and they were 2-0 down at half-time, they came back to draw and you knew there was a lot of fighting spirit in this team.

“They must be thinking themselves that they can hold their own in this league with the experience they’ve had.”

Dobson is particularly looking forward to seeing Gray, who finished with 25 Championship goals this season, get his first taste of the Premier League.

Two years ago Gray was still plying his trade in non-league, helping Luton win the Conference, before a move to Brentford for a season and then his switch to Turf Moor last summer.

“He must be really looking forward to the Premier League,” said Dobson. “He wants to prove himself and we’ve seen what’s happened at Leicester City this season with the likes of Jamie Vardy.

“You get through the divisions, nobody really knows what to expect and you can take it by storm.”