CHERRIES stars Wade Elliott and Garreth O'Connor are today set to join Coca-Cola Championship outfit Burnley, the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal.

The midfield duo are understood to have agreed personal terms for three-year deals and are expected to sign after undergoing medicals at Turf Moor.

Both Elliott and O'Connor will be entitled to leave Dean Court on Bosman free transfers as their existing contracts are due to expire at the end of June.

And news of their respective departures will come as a shattering blow to Cherries supporters as the pair were both influential members of Sean O'Driscoll's squad.

Dubliner O'Connor, 26, netted 14 goals from midfield last season and capped a superb individual campaign by lifting the Daily Echo-Micky Cave supporters' player-of-the-year award.

And Elliott, also 26, again played a starring role on the right wing as Cherries went close to securing a League One play-off place.

The former Bashley ace, who joined Cherries in 2000, capped his first full season with the club by collecting the prestigious Daily Echo player-of-the-year accolade.

Both Elliott and O'Connor impressed former Cherries star Steve Cotterill when they lined up against his Burnley side in the FA Cup last season.

Cotterill, who is understood to still own a house in Dorset and is a frequent visitor to Dean Court, was also among the crowd to see O'Connor score during Cherries' 2-2 draw at Stockport in February.

See tomorrow's Daily Echo for reaction from both players.