Jensen wins new contract

He arrived in the summer of 2003 after a season of farcical goalkeeping by Nik Michopoulos and Marlon Beresford had seen Burnley concede goals as if it was going out of fashion but things hardly improved.

He started the season with a couple of dreadful errors against Crystal Palace and hardly recovered as we faced a battle to avoid relegation. More than once he was targeted by manager Stan Ternent for poor performances and took the full brunt of the blame from the manager after we had gone down 5-3 at Preston.

With a new manager and a new goalkeeper it was just a matter of seeing his contract out in the reserves, although he did get one first team appearance in the Carling Cup when he spent all night saving penalties as we got through against Wolves.

As is usually the case with a goalkeeper, he got his chance because of an injury. At QPR a bad mistake by Coyne cost us a third goal but it also cost Coyne a few months on the sidelines with a serious injury.

Over the next few months, not only have we seen a completely different Brian Jensen, but we have seen a Brian Jensen who has more than earned a new deal. There will be few, if any dissenting voices with the club finally having confirmed the new deal, ironically coming the day after he sat on the bench for the first time since he took over from Coyne following that injury.

It means he joins recent signings Ade Akinbiyi and James O’Connor in committing themselves to the Clarets for another three years.

Manager Steve Cotterill was delighted to have completed the deal and said, “He’s worked very hard this season and I think he has reformed his reputation. I think he’s a great lad too and a good character to have in the dressing room. He’s popular not just with his team mates, but with the supporters too.

“It was easy to sort out. Brian was very realistic with his demands and so was his agent. It was all sorted out in a couple of hours.”

“I always wanted to stay here,” said the Beast. “I’m settled here now with my family and the little one and it’s great to be able to sort this out.”