STEVE Cotterill plans to take Burnley into the new season with one of their smallest ever squads.

The new Clarets chief is closing in on three more signings to add to last week's capture of former Ipswich Town defender John McGreal.

Cotterill tantalisingly revealed that two would be "great signings" while the other is a lower league player who would represent a "calculated risk".

But the studious Burnley boss insists that may be the end of his immediate search for players as he concentrates on quality, rather than quantity.

Cotterill explained: "I'm not going to beat around the bush. We are going to have a smaller squad because I would like to try to get better players in.

"If we go down the route of spreading our money out, we would end up with eight players who are not good enough and then be changing the team every week.

"I would rather have four players who will be good enough and sit tight and hope we don't get injuries.

"The more games we win, the more the crowds go up and the bigger my budget becomes.

"Then we can go and add another four good players to the four we already have. That's the theory behind it and hopefully that will be the case."

Cotterill, who has travelled to both ends of the country in his player quest, added: "I have earmarked key positions and targeted three players.

"The first I went to see last Thursday and another I have already spoken to and if I got those two, they would be two great signings.

"The third will be a calculated risk because he would come from a lower division than the First.

"But we need to wait and see on that one and I can't really say any more at the moment.

"I don't like filling fans full of false hope because the disappointment as a manager is big enough if you don't sign someone - let alone letting down the supporters."

A striker seems certain to be one of Cotterill's immediate targets, with only Robbie Blake and Ian Moore remaining on the club's books.

Norwich hitman Mark Rivers is one name rumoured to be on the hit-list after falling out of favour at Carrow Road.

However, Canaries boss Nigel Worthington confirmed no contact has so far been made between the two clubs.

Other targets are through to include a second defender and a wide midfielder - key areas that require addressing to supplement the 12 players now at Cotterill's disposal following McGreal's imminent arrival and the new one-year deals signed by teenagers Matt O'Neill, Joel Pilkington and Paul Scott.

Cotterill insisted: "I think it has its advantages working with a smaller squad.

"Players know they are going to play and you can get a settled team. As long as you can keep their confidence high, keep a good work ethic in everything they do and remain positive you can then achieve things."