BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill is lining up another 'calculated risk' to add to his four summer signings.

The Clarets boss has left no stone unturned in trying to strengthen his hand for the coming Championship season.

Already, Bournemouth winger Wade Elliott and midfielder Garreth O'Connor, along with Stoke City defender Wayne Thomas, have agreed to sign three-year deals on July 1.

This week saw striker Gifton Noel-Williams also make the switch from the Britannia Stadium after shaking hands on a two-year deal at Turf Moor.

And with several key positions still to cover, Cotterill admits he is now tempted to take a leap of faith similar to the one that brought Michael Duff to Burnley last summer.

At the time, Cotterill memorably described the versatile Cheltenham Town defender as a "calculated risk". However, the gamble duly paid off, with Duff rising to the challenge of playing at a higher level and featuring in 48 games last season.

And the cash-strapped Clarets boss, who has taken in trips to Germany and Spain to eye potential targets, is now looking to repeat the trick with another mystery target.

He explained: "There is somebody else I am going to take a risk with if it comes off. I have only see the lad play once, but I might be tempted to take a gamble with him.

"I've watched him, gone away and looked back through all my paperwork. He was one player I put an asterisk by and I remember talking about him that night when I came away, so I might take a runner on this one."

Meanwhile, Burnley's reserve team could be involved in a play-off final next season following an agreement on a new format for the Pontins League.

Mark Yates' side have been placed in Division One (West) next season alongside Bury, Blackpool, Carlisle United, Chester City, Northwich Victoria, Preston North End, Tranmere Rovers, Shrewsbury Town and Wrexham.

The successful teams in each of the three divisions, including Division One (Central) and Division One (East), will then go on to face each other in play-off games at the end of the campaign.

The season gets under way in the week commencing August 15.

The make-over replaces the