Bingham makes a start

Bingham has told the Coleraine press: "I've seen Glentoran, Linfield and Coleraine play recently and gave the names of three or four players to Owen Coyle. If he likes them, then good and if we can get some good players between 18 and 23 then all the better for Burnley.

"I was in retirement when the call came, but I would hope the club see that I am a good judge of a player and can point them in the right direction, particularly in Ireland. I would class Irish football as probably good third division standard, but they give a lot of youngsters a chance earlier than they do in England and then, given a chance they can go higher."

Bingham added: "It is invigorating to see players with a bit of class, especially young players and if I can help Burnley and Owen then I will be doing my job well."

Clarets boss Owen Coyle said: "Billy loves to talk about football. He's just a wonderful man who loves football and I think it will work well. The other thing it shows is, in the big scheme of things, what we're trying to do.

"Yes, we want to get signings in, of course we do, but I think it is important that we have the structure right to take the whole club on, ant this is a part of that."