CHIEF executive Paul Fletcher says that Burnley may consider allowing more players to leave Turf Moor this summer if they no longer want to play for the club.

The Clarets’ relegation from the Premier League has seen a number of players linked with moves this summer, and Fletcher believes that agents are becoming an increasingly unsettling influence in the modern game as clubs try to hang on to their stars.

The closure of the transfer window is still two-and-a-half months away but Burnley have already sold top scorer Steven Fletcher to Wolves for £7.5m and have had to deal with speculation that more of their current squad would prefer to remain in the top flight rather than play in the Championship.

Tyrone Mears, Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott and Clarke Carlisle have all been linked with exits - the latter to former club Blackpool despite signing a new two-year deal only a few months ago - although none have openly said they want to leave.

But Clarets chief executive Fletcher is realistic enough to know that agents are likely to be encouraging some to seek transfers, and knows it would be difficult to keep players if they were to inform the club that they wanted to move on.

“We only want players who want to be with us,” said the former Burnley player.

“It’s hard to keep players now who don’t want to be at a club, but if people want to be here they are more than welcome.

“It seems nowadays, though, that players move clubs and as soon as they do their agents are looking to move them again.

“In my time, if you were offered a contract you did a somersault and took your wife out for a celebration.

“But it’s not like that now. Agents are putting their names around all the time. It’s a constant thing and it happens to all clubs.

“I think players move too quickly now and you don’t get that affinity and that bond with fans.

“Two years seems like a lifetime now. If players stay two years they could probably be in line for a loyalty bonus.

“I think Alan Stevenson and myself were the last players to do 10 years at Burnley.

“The only way you ever seem to spend a long time at a club now is if you’re an average player, because either clubs come in for you at one end or players are moved on at the other.

“But that’s down to the market and I’ve always been a big believer in market forces.

“And players are always going to do what is best for them. I accept that.”

But Fletcher is hopeful that the money available from the sale of his namesake, who had been signed from Hibernian 12 months ago, could allow Burnley to start next season with a stronger squad than the one that finished the 2009/10 campaign last month.

The Clarets have already brought in striker Chris Iwelumo, 31, and midfielder Dean Marney, 26, this summer.

“We got around £7.5m for Fletcher, so that’s a £4m profit,” said the chief executive.

“The manager has been given a budget and will go out and spend it as he sees fit.

“We might end up with a squad of players that’s better than last year.

“We’ve already brought in Iwelumo so I think if we can look to bring in a mixture of young and old players, spending £1m or £1.5m on young players, that is probably what we’ll look to do - although it will be down to the manager and the chairman.”

Burnley continue to be linked with Billy Sharp, although it is understood that the Sheffield United striker - also attracting interest from the likes of Leeds and Doncaster - is currently on his honeymoon and not due to return for around 10 days.