1/12 Andy Cooke completes his
move to Stoke, for a fee generally reckoned to be around £300,000. Ternent comments,
"Andy hasn't been getting regular first-team football and is out of contract at the
end of the season, so really the time was right… You need a squad of players but from
the player's point of view it wasn't very satisfactory to be not playing. He's done very
well for us so I felt it was right. He has been a great servant for many years and we all
wish him well for the future." John Rudge, Stoke's 'Director of Football', who of
course tried to sign Cooke while manager of Port Vale, makes a shocking pun, saying,
"we are hoping Cooke will be a recipe for success." We are supposed to be
keeping an eye on Motherwell's 22-year-old striker Lee McCulloch. Meanwhile, it's rumoured
that reserve players John Boardman, Michael Devenney, Alex Kevan, Matthew Heywood and
Chris Scott will leave at the end of the season, and are already being encouraged to find
new clubs. Our away match at Watford is rescheduled for Tuesday 13 March. One time Claret
Steve Alfonso Morgan joins non-league Altrincham.
2/12 Burnley 1 Nottingham Forest 0. Scorer: Payton (pen 79). Team:
Michopoulos, Cox, Davis, Thomas, Branch, Weller, Cook (Johnrose 56), Mellon, Ball, Payton
(Mullin 80), Moore (Jepson 90). SNU: Crichton and Maylett. Att: 17,876. See our match report for details. We go 5th. Before the
game, it is announced that Stan Ternent and Sam Ellis have signed contract extensions to
the end of the 2002/2003 season. Their existing contracts had been due to expire at the
end of this season, and Ternent had spoken in the past about retiring in 2001. They duly
take the pitch to the applause of the fans. Andy Cooke contacts the Radio Lancashire phone
in to thank Burnley supporters. He says, "Everyone has said I've been a loyal servant
of the club and that's very important. I would hate to leave by playing badly or falling
out and leaving on bad terms. But it hasn't been like that and that wouldn't be right...
I've got a lot of friends at Burnley with the players and some past players and I've been
very lucky with the fans. Over five-and-a-half seasons I have had a very good rapport with
the crowd. I've got a lot of good things to take from Burnley. I wouldn't change a day of
it and I'd like to thank everyone." That said, Stoke lose 3-1 at home to Luton on his
debut. In a busy day for recently ex-Clarets, Alan Lee grabs two for Rotherham and both
David Eyres and Phil Gray score as Oldham beat Oxford 3-2. The youth team's game against
Blackpool is postponed. Do these matches ever actually take place?
3/12 The New Year's Day game at home to Wolves is moved back to one
o'clock for no good reason.
4/12 Oh dear. Burnley Youth 0 Sheffield Wednesday Youth 6 in
the FA Youth Cup. Team: Salisbury, Leeson, P Scott, Pilkington, E Davis, Leary, Henry,
Fogarty, Barrett (Whelan 70), Grimes (A Smith 45), Waine. SNU: Rooney, R Smith, Zajac.
Paul Scott is Chris' brother. Ternent speaks about his new contract. He says, "It's a
great honour to manage Burnley Football Club. I've said that from the word go and I'm
delighted that the Chairman and the Board have faith in me. I said when I came that it
would be my last job and I was thinking of turning it in in the summer, to be quite
honest, once I had established the team in the First Division and seen where we were up
to. I've got a little granddaughter now and there are other things in my life but I
thought I've got another two and a half years to do and by that time I would hope we'd be
knocking on the door perhaps for the Premiership. I had a long talk with the chairman and
they are very ambitious at the club and I have to have a loyalty to the players who have
been fantastic for me and I just decided I would do it."
5/12 The boring Nicky Daws story refuses to die. He's supposed to
be coming on loan with Dean West going the other way. However, cash-strapped Bury say of
West, " We couldn't even pay his petrol." Blackburn reveal they still have over
1,000 tickets to sell for the derby match. They comment, "With it being on
television, some fans are opting to stay at home."
6/12 Burnley Reserves 1 Tranmere Reserves 4. It's another very
young team: Salisbury, Leeson, Devenney, C Scott, Heywood, Boardman, Williamson, Kevan,
Shandran (P Scott 67), Davis (Waine 83), Bowden. SNU: Leary, Paxton, Robertshaw. Our goal
comes from Devenney, and there are two Scotts in the same side. Meanwhile Andy Cooke
scores his first Stoke goal in their 3-1 LDV Vans (remember that?) win over Scarborough.
After Burnley are placed bottom in a division one fair play table, Ternent says, "We
aren't a dirty team… It just means we tackle a lot."
7/12 Ahead of the weekend's game, Gary 'Big Boy' Parkinson admits
he can't remember whether he scored the first or second goal for us at Wembley in 1994.
Never the sharpest tool in the box.
8/12 Former Claret Billy White dies. White, nicknamed Chalkie, was
a fringe player between 1954 and 1961, playing nine times. He was 64. Ahead of the string
of forthcoming local games, Ternent says, "We've got Preston and then Blackburn and
then Bolton, and then we've got to look forward to turkey and plum duff and your presents
on Christmas morning." What, no jumpers for goalposts?
9/12 Preston 2 Burnley 1. Scorers: Moore (26) / Macken (51),
Alexander (67). Team: Michopoulos, Thomas, Davis, Cox, Weller, Maylett (Mullin 73),
Mellon, Johnrose (Armstrong 84), Cook (Jepson 58), Payton, Moore. SNU: Crichton and West.
Att: 17,355. See our match report for details. We drop to 8th.
Ternent comments, "We gave two silly goals away in the second half and we let them
back in it. We were disappointing, by our standards." He adds, "There is room
for improvement in the squad." Phil Gray scores for Oxford, but they lose to
non-league Chester in the FA Cup.
10/12 In what's generally reckoned to be a better than average FA
Cup draw, we pull out the less than plum tie of Scunthorpe at home. Sky tv are not
reported to be interested.
11/12 To no one's great surprise, Paul Robinson returns to
Wimbledon. Burnley's AGM takes place. Bob Blakeborough is re-elected to the Board and
Chris Duckworth formally elected, and Andrew Watson gives a presentation, during which he
describes us as "the fastest growing club in football." It’s also revealed
that the official website will begin providing match commentary, with Kenneth Wolstenholme
to be the voice of the derby game. There's discussion about how to improve our youth
policy. Ternent is preparing a report, and the club will then decide to what extent to
pursue a youth policy. Setting up an academy could cost at least £2m.
12/12 Amidst speculation of signings before the weekend, Scott
Minto is linked with a move to Burnley.
13/12 The reserve team away match against Bolton is called off due
to a waterlogged pitch. The club say that talks have taken place regarding a sponsorship
deal, with the aim being to have a shirt sponsor paying a six-figure sum in place by next
summer.
14/12 A press conference is held at Turf Moor on the derby match,
attended by both clubs' managers and captains. Barry Kilby appeals for calm, saying,
"The message we're hammering home is that we don't want any trouble at all and to be
sensible about it. It should be a great advert for East Lancashire, going out to a
national audience. It should be fabulous for the area, the famous Claret and Blues playing
the blue and white halves. It would be so ridiculous to have any trouble and we will be
doing everything we can to prevent it. None of us wants it to happen and we want it to be
a really good day. Yes there's a rivalry and you want some banter but anybody causing
trouble will be severely dealt with. We don't want it. We are rivals and it's great to be
back as Blackburn's peers, playing on an equal footing. It's the first time in 17 years
and it's something for us to relish." Lenny Johnrose comments, "I had a spell at
Blackburn Rovers in the past, but that was a long time ago and I don't think about that
now." Former Claret John Gayle joins Torquay from Shrewsbury.
15/12 The last home tickets for the derby game are sold. The fifth
meeting between board and supporters club representatives takes place.
16/12 We move up one place without playing, going to 7th
as Preston lose heavily at Gillingham and slip below us on goal difference. Football Focus
runs a feature on the derby game. Andy Payton says, "This is definitely the game I've
waited all my life to play in. I would give my right arm to score."
17/12 Just another game. Burnley 0 the other team 2.
Scorers: McAteer (45), Bent (90). Team: Michopoulos, Thomas, Cox, Davis, Weller, Branch,
Cook, Mellon, Ball, Payton, Moore. SNU: Crichton and Jepson. Att: 21,369. See the match report, if you can bear to. We slip to 9th.
With admirable understatement, Ternent comments, "A lot of things happened today.
It's the first time we've played Blackburn for 17 years, it's the first time we've lost
two matches back-to-back for a long time and it's the first time we've lost at home this
season. So we might as well get it all out of the way in one go and then we'll crack on
against Bolton." Kevin Ball's dismissal for violent conduct will bring a three match
ban (Wolves and Scunthorpe at home and Gillingham away) while Cook and Davis pick up their
fifth bookings, meaning they too miss the Wolves match. Of the foul that brought his
dismissal, Ball says it wasn't intentional, adding, "Whether or not more was made of
it by people running on the pitch, that's for you to say." There are reported to be
16 arrests made after unrest in the town afterwards. Never mind, eh?
18/12 It's suggested that we will now make another attempt to sign
Adebola. Former Burnley Assistant Manager John Ward is made caretaker manager of Wolves
after Colin Lee is sacked.
19/12 Birmingham agree a fee for Mark Burchill from Celtic, which
may increase the possibility of Adebola leaving. Ternent says he might want to bring in a
loan signing or two, but the Christmas period, with its glut of games, is not the best
time.
20/12 Despite speculation, it looks like neither side will be
punished for some unsavoury on pitch stuff in the derby match. Sky had offered to make a
video available to the FA, but it seems there's nothing significant in the ref's report.
Meanwhile, it's rumoured that Sky are to televise the Deadwood Park revenge mission.
Another interesting rumour suggests that Ternent's post derby match tv interview was cut
short (due to 'technical reasons') because he got a bit carried away. We are again linked
with a loan move for Ian Bishop.
21/12 But Assistant Manager Sam Ellis says not. Of the Bishop
rumour he comments, "We can categorically deny that. It isn't true."
Birmingham's bid to sign Burchill collapses, so they may want to hang on to Adebola.
22/12 Ternent says of Adebola, "He's the only player I know
who's available for transfer but not transferable." Phil Gray scores for Oxford
again, but they lose 3-2 to Colchester. Going down? Ian Wright signs a reputed million
pound deal with the BBC. Hmm, don't think he'll be coming back.
23/12 Burnley 0 Bolton 2, and three defeats in a row for a
team which hadn't lost two in succession until last weekend. Scorer: Ricketts (53, 72).
Team: Michopoulos, Thomas, Davis, Cox, Smith, Weller (Little 57), Cook (Johnrose 59),
Mellon (Jepson 69), Ball, Mullin, Branch. SNU: Crichton and Maylett. Att: 19,552. See our match report for details. We stay 9th. Ternent
says we should have had a "blatant penalty" for Colin Hendry's trip on Mellon.
The big talking point of the day is the absence of both Moore and Payton, sparking much
speculation and rumour of a 'training ground bust up'. However, it appears both are
injured, with Payton having picked up a knee injury against last Sunday's opposition and
Moore having a groin strain.
26/12 Hmm. Barnsley 1 Burnley 0. Scorer: Morgan (89). Team:
Michopoulos, Thomas, Cox, Davis, Smith, Mellon, Ball, Johnrose, Weller, Branch (Little 65,
Jepson 86), Moore (Payton 78). SNU: Crichton and Mullin. Att: 18,725. See our match report for details. We go 10th. Ternent takes the
opportunity to lay into his players for the first time in ages. He says (edited
highlights), "It's not often I have a go at them but I am now and I've told them in
the dressing room. The gloves are off, let's get on with it… They're playing their
own way now. They might feel a little bit Billy Big Time but we'll see… Our holiday
period ended at quarter-to-five yesterday. We're training today and we'll be training
right through, because I'm going to put this right for the Burnley fans, because they
deserve better than that. Those players are having a laugh. I've stuck up for them but
they're having a jolly. That's not good enough and I'll sort something out. I'm so angry
and I've told them. Everything's cancelled. We start training ten o'clock this morning
right through to Wimbledon then again. There'll be no time off until I get better
performances than that… When I saw Paul Weller going to the line and whizzing balls
across the box, and I see one striker and no midfield players, or nobody from the other
side getting in the box, that tells me either they've eaten too much turkey and plum duff
or they don't have a desire. But I'll sort it out. They may have lost a little bit of
confidence but I say they've lost the desire… A change of personnel would be very
nice to strengthen the squad." On Little's non-performance, he says, "I don't
want him back until he's right because he's no good to us until he's right and I've told
the physio that. That's not good enough for me so I'll sort it out good style now."
Acting Barnsley manager Eric Winstanley (no relation) admits he'd have been happy with a
point.
27/12 Colin Murdock from Preston is another name churned out by the
rumour mill. Ternent says it looks as though he isn't going to get Adebola, and he will
look elsewhere.
28/12 The Wayne Allison rumour of old is revived. He's been
transfer listed by Tranmere. Ternent says he isn't interested. Carl Asaba is also
suggested again. None of these are exactly new, are they? Ternent again criticises physio
Ian Liversedge over Glen Little’s poor comeback from injury, saying, "I don't
want players on duty until they are fully fit and I've told the physio that. This is the
second time he has broken down in a comeback match and I'm not happy about it." Of
Little himself he adds, "As far as his injury and everything goes he's fine, but
between his ears he's a little wary of it."
29/12 The Wimbledon away match is called off after a three o'clock
inspection, due to a frozen pitch. It had been thought that Selhurst Park had covers to
keep the pitch heated. Ternent says he'd like to bring in players, but comments,
"You're talking a million pounds now to get better than we've got… It's really
important that it's dead right for us and it has to be the right sort of lad and the right
sort of players to fit into the way we are." He says Birmingham have rebuffed him
over Adebola, but he might be interested if they tell change their minds.
30/12 Ray Ingleby says he could consider increasing his stake in
the club, if he felt it was necessary. He comments, "I think we are doing very well,
when you consider where we've come from. I think recent results are a speed bump really on
the road to our future success. Commercially we've got the club well on track and Stan is
well on the way to getting it sorted on the field. The prospects are excellent over the
next few years and our goal over the next few years is still to get into the
Premiership."
