THERE was one stage of the season when I felt we had got ourselves out of trouble. It was after the Manchester City game - a win that gave everyone hope and belief. But it just didn’t happen.

The performance levels were always there; we were always in games. We’ve been solid at the back, but we maybe just didn’t have enough quality to nick a goal that we needed here and there.

MORE TOP STORIES:

But it is not all doom and gloom. Sean Dyche has built a team to get into the Premier League once already. We have to try to keep the bulk of those players and add to it in order to get back up, and I believe that can happen.

The manager and board will have already been planning for life after Danny Ings. He didn’t sign a new contract so they are prepared for him leaving at the end of the season and hopefully they have put things into place to get a replacement.

One or two defenders might be needed if Jason Shackell goes.

Kieran Trippier has been, and will continue to be, linked with Premier League clubs as he has consistently shown he is at home at this level. But he is under contract and unless people come up with the right money then we will have to wait and see.

When it comes to offering new contracts, Michael Duff has been outstanding this season. People will always talk about his age, which is something that was always thrown at me in my career. But he is more than capable of winning promotion again with Burnley for a third time. If Shackell goes, Ben Mee is an option at centre half. It’s where he was brought up at Manchester City.

In midfield, there are maybe one or two younger ones who could push on, while I think it’s important we keep Dean Marney, who is out of contract this summer. He is one of those players you notice more so when they aren’t in the team, and has been a big loss this season.

It’s all ifs and buts, but if he had stayed fit I think we would be in a healthier position.