UPBEAT Burnley number two Russ Wilcox reckons that the Clarets will be in the right frame of mind for a promotion push – and insists the bad memories of relegation from the Premier League are a thing of the past.

With the Championship season less than eight weeks away, Wilcox says the Clarets can make a successful challenge, even though the pain of the drop from the top flight hit everyone hard and is still fresh in the memories.

Burnley are favourites with some bookies to win the Championship title and make that instant return to the Premier League – and Wilcox insists the players and staff are determined to make up for that dream that turned into a nightmare.

Wilcox said: “I think we’ve got to draw a line under last season now. The talking is done on last season and we have to move forward now.

“We have to get the club moving forward and, if we can, take some positivity from what West Brom have done and Newcastle have done.

“Two out of the three that went down came back, and hopefully we can do the same.”

Wilcox, who has served under boss Brian Laws at both Scunthorpe and Sheffield Wednesday, knows that the pain of relegation is anything but pleasant but believes that pain can only help everyone become stronger.

“It hits you hard in the game where you actually get relegated,” added Wilcox.

“But you have to quickly move forward and that’s what we’ve done.

“In football, the longer you spend in it the more you realise you’ve got to be very middle ground.

“You can’t get too excited when things go really well and you can’t get too disappointed when they don’t.

“Obviously there is the disappointment from last season but you do have to move on quickly and I think the longer you’ve spent in the game you can do that.

“I have always tried to keep myself very level as a player, coach, assistant manager or whichever role I’ve been in and this season will be no different.

"But I can’t wait for the season to start.”