CLARETS boss Steve Cotterill has already started the re-building process as he plans ahead for next season with the signing of Crewe striker Steve Jones.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph exclusively revealed on April 21 that Cotterill was lining up the Northern Ireland international.

And the former Chorley man put pen to paper on a three-year deal yesterday.

The 29-year-old has turned down the offer of an extended contract at Gresty Road and will join the Clarets this summer on a free transfer.

Manager Steve Cotterill said: "We are delighted to have agreed a deal for Steve, who I think will be one of the best Bosman signings of the summer.

"He is a great lad who possesses great pace and I feel we could have done with that this season. If so, we could possibly have turned some of the draws into wins.

"But we cannot look back and instead we look forward to Steve linking up with the rest of the squad when they return for pre-season training."

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