ONE week until pre-season training and still we don't have a team to speak of!

John McGreal's recent signing takes us to nine first team regulars, but I'm still a little bit disappointed that our new manager has not further added to his numbers.

I think all Burnley fans would be looking for a flood of new faces to get the juices flowing ahead of what is already looking like a tough season.

Signings will always help to put bums on seats and the one thing Burnley need to be able to punch their weight in a heavyweight First Division is cash in the bank.

But the proof of the pudding is always in the eating, so for now we have to put our frustrations on hold and sit and wait until the picture is complete before passing further judgement.

Certainly Steve Cotterill, pictured, has been making the right noises so far and with several irons still in the fire, I do expect major developments in the coming week.

I read with interest his comments about running with a small squad and that is a real hark back to the glory days.

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, a glance at the record books shows the Clarets - along with many other top teams - had similarly small squads.

Those were the days when the team was almost constant and you were virtually guaranteed your name was on the sheet week in and week out.

These days, however, it's a whole new ball game. Far faster and, as a consequence with many more injuries than we ever seemed to have.

That's why I don't necessarily think having limited numbers at your disposal is the best policy.

The moment you start picking up injuries and suspensions, that's when the problems really start.

But if Steve thinks that's the way forward - when the money is pretty tight- then you can't really argue.

It's all part of the fine balance in being a modern-day manager and whatever the manager pulls off in a congested transfer market, we will all get right behind him.

As Burnley supporters that is our duty.