The Clarets have lost 11 of 13 Barclays Premier League games - as well as an FA Cup tie against Reading - since Laws was appointed as Owen Coyle's successor in January, with last week's 6-1 hammering at home to Manchester City leaving the team four points from safety in 19th position with five games to play.

Ahead of tomorrow's crucial relegation six-pointer at 18th-placed Hull, reports have suggested the 48-year-old's job could be under immediate threat.

But Laws has spoken with the club's chairman Barry Kilby and operational director Brendan Flood since the City defeat and feels there is no reason why he should not continue making plans both for the remainder of this campaign and the next.

"Whatever headlines have been written it's part and parcel of the game, I can't influence it, all I know is I'm planning for a game for this weekend," Laws said.

"I've been working on the players regarding our strategy for the weekend and I've been working on the short and long-term strategy of the football club.

"I've been doing that with the chairman and Brendan Flood. As far as I'm concerned we carry on as we have been. I can't stop rumours. I don't lose sleep over them either."

Laws believes he has an honest relationship with the Clarets hierarchy and will be in charge next season.

He continued: "I spoke to the chairman a few days ago, and Brendan as well. We were talking about the long-term future of the club and our plans for next season.

"That's all I've been talking about. Nothing else has been suggested. I can't stop rumours.

"I've come to this football club with integrity and honesty and the board have been exactly like that with me.

"Unless they tell me otherwise, that's what I'll believe."

On the rumours he is about to be sacked, Laws said: "For me it's just chip paper.

"We're an easy target. The bad news is at the bottom end of the Premier League, the good news is at the top end."

Meanwhile, Burnley player-coach Graham Alexander believes it will serve his team-mates best to hold on to the painful memory of the City defeat as they look to make amends tomorrow.

"It's good sometimes to keep it in the system because it can give you the chance to use it as a positive force," Alexander said.

"It's still inside me and I'm sure it's still inside most of the players and staff.

"We've got to use it going into the game on Saturday, knowing that we let ourselves down and everyone connected with the club and that we are not going to let it happen again."

If they are to get a positive result against Hull - who are three points better off with a game in hand - Burnley will have overcome their notorious travel sickness, with their away record in the league this season showing no wins, one draw and 15 defeats.

Alexander admits the team's form on the road may have developed into a psychological problem, but he is determined it is one they will conquer.

"It may have already become a mental problem months ago, I don't know," he said.

"We haven't won away from home and it is something we have to prove to ourselves and prove to other people - that we are still fighting to break that duck away from home. Come Saturday we have got to do it."

Alexander has spoken of the need for the team to "stay together or die" and that includes Kevin McDonald, who Laws confirmed yesterday would be in the squad despite the midfielder being fined by the club for leaving Turf Moor without permission at half-time during last weekend's match.

It was reported that McDonald - who was substituted by Laws at the break with the Clarets 5-0 down - headed to a nearby pub after departing the stadium.

The 21-year-old issued an apology on Tuesday for his "naive" and "disrespectful" behaviour and Alexander insists there is no ill-feeling within the camp towards McDonald.

"You learn lessons right through your career and Kev is only at the start of his," Alexander said.

"It's just a small mistake that he knows he has made and he's not trying to hide from it, so we go on from there.

"The lads have got nothing against him - he's a great lad around the changing room and he is still part of the group."