Brian Laws looks set for vacant manager's job at Burnley

Brian Laws looks set to be appointed as Burnley's new manager. Laws and the Doncaster Rovers manager, Sean O'Driscoll, were the frontrunners for the job to replace Owen Coyle following his departure to Bolton Wanderers. O'Driscoll had previously been thought to be favourite for the post at Turf Moor after holding talks with the club, but it is believed Burnley were unable to agree a compensation package with Doncaster. The Lancashire were likely to face a £1m compensation demand from Doncaster should they have offered the vacancy to O'Driscoll, after the 52-year-old emerged as a candidate for the Burnley job. Doncaster had refused to confirm reports that they granted Burnley permission to approach the man who guided them into the Championship, although it is understood O'Driscoll and Laws were the final two names on the Clarets' shortlist. The Leeds United manager, Simon Grayson, also interested the Burnley hierarchy but has made it known he views his rebuilding work at Elland Road as incomplete. Laws, a former Burnley player, is a free agent after parting company with Wednesday last month when the Owls were ­languishing 20th in the Championship. The 48-year-old is believed to have impressed in two interviews with the Burnley chairman, Barry Kilby, and would welcome the task of trying to keep the Clarets in the Premier League. "Of course it would interest me," Laws told the Lancashire Telegraph. "I have a great affinity with Burnley, but there's no more I can say on that." He managed Grimsby Town and Scunthorpe before taking charge at Wednesday and started his playing career at Burnley, making more than 150 appearances for the club before leaving to join Huddersfield Town in 1983. Laws's availability and the absence of any compensation appealed to Burnley, who hope to end a turbulent period caused by Coyle's controversial defection to Bolton Wanderers with an appointment before this weekend. O'Driscoll was also under consideration for the role.. The former Bournemouth manager has established an impressive reputation since joining Doncaster in 2006, winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2007, the League One play-offs the following year. He was rewarded with a new three-year contract by Doncaster last summer.