By Turftalker
June 3 2004

At 10:04 am Steve Cotterill was formerly announced as the next manager of Burnley Football Club. Cotterill has signed a 3 year deal at the club and becomes the club's 30th Manager and 20th post-war.

Press Conference Review:

In a packed press room at Turf Moor: Steve Cotterill, Barry Kilby and Dave Edmundson entered the room all singing off the same sheet - a revolution has begun!

Dave Edmunson welcomed Steve Cotterill to the club, expressing his delight that a long four week search was over, and that the club's first choice was now committed to Burnley.

Barry Kilby admitted that there were many excellent applicants for the post, but that Steve Cotterill was the unanimous and first choice. Indeed Kilby acknowledged he had followed the new manager's career from the early days, in particular after Cotterill's Cheltenham defeated Burnley in the FA Cup! Cotterill's 3 year contract mirrors the much talked about 3 year plan. Indeed Barry Kilby admitted this was all part of the club changing direction, with the ultimate aim of Premiership football.

Dave Edmundson agreed with Barry Kilby and said that Cotterill had the "it" factor during interviews, he said he was impressed by Cotterill's pedigree. Indeed speaking to this website Edmundson explained how Cotterill filled the criteria for a new manager perfectly. He has top coaching qualifications, managerial experience, first division experience and was a forward thinker who will enjoy rebuilding the club's youth policy. Equally Dave Edmundson told the Longside that he had enjoyed the process of selecting a manager, and although there were many top applicants who could have done a good job at Burnley, one man always has to come to the top of the tree - Steve Cotterill was that man!

Cotterill admitted he was really excited about the prospect of managing the clarets. "I'm really looking forward to it, it's a great challenge but without a challenge there is no achievement. I got up this morning and went for a swim for twenty minutes, then I went for a sauna, then I had my breakfast and by the time I looked at my watch it was still only 10 past seven so I don't know when I've done that last before!"

Cotterill, who seemed an easy going and articulate manager, continued to outline his aims and desires for the club. He acknowledged it would be hard to follow Stan, but that life was all about challenges. He set out his plans for the club, with his priority being to sign 3 players so we can put at least 11 players out on the pitch! He is aware that the club's finances are not great, but expressed a real desire to work within his budget to get good players to build his team ethic of 'honesty, hard work and organisation.' He joked about not being able to afford flair, but he should have no worries with the skilful Robbie Blake!

Furthermore Cotterill was not willing to start branding about phrases like "sleeping giants," instead and refreshingly he wanted to take the job one day at a time and rebuild the club from the bottom up. He plans to bring his own backroom staff in over the next 3 weeks, with the emphasis being on youthful coaches with one older head in some capacity. "I've got my backroom staff tentatively sorted out but I couldn't go ahead with giving them full commitments because it was only last night that everything was finalised. There will be a few calls to make over the next few days but there is no massive urgency at the moment."

Finally Cotterill admitted he had one player in mind to join the club soon and now with the ink only just dry on his contract the work can really begin, including a possible pre-season tour to Denmark!!

-END-

Stay tuned for more as the summer progresses on: The Longside.