1/12 Steve Blatherwick is set to join
Chesterfield for £50,000. Lincoln had also asked to take him on loan, but we are keen to
sell him. Kilby says he will be speaking to Ingleby this week, to provide
"clarification" on his invitation to invest. He says, "I want to give him
every chance." It's revealed that Vinnie Jones' "wrestling commitments"
will make him unavailable until the New Year, as he is contracted to take part in some
kind of World Wrestling Federation farrago over Christmas. If he joins on loan, it means
someone else will have to go. Nathan Peel signs for Stevenage.
2/12 Blatherwick completes his move to
Chesterfield, at a loss of £150,000 to the club. Manager John Duncan describes him as a
useful squad signing who will provide back up for the first choice defenders. Paul Smith
has a further operation on his troublesome knee and will be out until the "New
Year." Burnley Reserves 2 Bolton Reserves 0. Eamonn Kelly (who he?) gets the
two goals.
3/12 Hardly shock news: Peter "Billy
Liar" Shackleton "reveals" that his take-over "bid" is officially
over. Surprised? Police are investigating claims that Ternent spat chewing gum into a
Blackpool supporter's face following an altercation after the Blackpool game. Sean Brooks,
aged 22, is claiming the alleged incident occurred as he sat near the player's tunnel.
Mark Winstanley is the subject of a second offer from Warren Joyce's Hull. Vinnie Jones is
said to have picked up an injury while filming a wrestling commercial
4/12 Barry Kilby is lining up a meeting with
Ingleby. The club announce that the league game against Man City on 9 March has already
been made all-ticket for home and away supporters. Charmingly, the club add that this
early announcement will give people the chance to buy them as Christmas presents. Glen
Little says he doesn't want to move, but it's up to the manager and board. Meanwhile,
Vinnie Jones says, "it is wrong to say I have ruled out a move to Burnley. On the
contrary, I am very interested in talking to them. Stan Ternent was a coach at Chelsea
when I was there and I have a lot of respect for him. It's up to the two clubs to sort out
the financial situation and if they can do that it is would represent another massive
challenge for me." He goes on, "Burnley are not the only club I could do a job
for. Every manager out there knows what I can do, and I am convinced I would be an asset
to any Premiership or league club." Ternent re-affirms his interest, but says that,
as Gavin Ward proved, he will not raise his wages ceiling for anyone. Lee Howey joins
Northampton for a second month. Ternent and Ellis agree to take part in a supporters
question and answer session at Burnley Cricket Club on the 9th. Clarets legend
Super Johnny Francis becomes player-coach at Ossett Town, joining them from Whitby.
5/12 Michael Williams plays in a trial game
for Southend. In the FA Cup, Steve Davis scores a great goal against Warren Joyce's Hull,
but Luton go on to lose. Walsall also lose, thereby securing our January 2nd
fixture.
7/12 The club's accounts are published. We
are £3,936,800 in debt. This total rose by £807,484 last season. The overdraft has been
increased by £523,513, with a further £283,971 in interest. Our operating loss was
£533,760 (down from £634,979 after donations). There was a small operating profit of
£68,000, before waddle's transfer activities. Our deficit on transfer dealings was
£602,005. Turnover rose £30,000 to £3,731,841, and expenditure went up approximately
£100,000 to £4,366,820. Wages climbed almost £300,000 to £1,948,858. The directors
loaned the club £116,471. The new sports centre contributed around £100,000 and season
ticket sales stand at over 6,000. The club has assets of £8,247,982, approximately
£7,000,000 of which is believed to be the ground. Borrowings now account for around three
quarters of the debt. The board, who turned down Ingleby's bid and supported Shackleton,
is said to be putting a brave face on the figures. Frank Teasdale comments, "it's not
all gloom and doom but there is room for improvement. That is one of the reasons we are
looking at fresh money which has got to be used wisely. There's a job to be done but it's
not all doom and gloom." The AGM is now set for 30th December. The club
say that they had been hoping to announce details of a long-term capital-raising project,
but, "due to last minute discussions with various parties" they cannot yet. They
promise details soon. Other highlights from the press release (my italics):
"operating loss £534k (due to investment in new players)," "a very exciting
finish to the season under the managership of ex-England international chris waddle,"
"speculation on the club's future and structure was not helpful,"
"they have made a very good start behind the scenes." The club also add
that "turnover held up in a difficult year." Isn't that thanks to us? Vinnie
Jones is linked with a move to Watford. Getting a bit tiresome, this one.
8/12 Burnley 0 Preston 1 in the
Auto-whatever. Macken (59). Armstrong, Robertson and O'Kane are all missing due to
injuries, Payton and Morgan have suspensions and Andy Cooke is taken off at half time
after receiving a kick on the calf. Michael Devenney gets a debut. Burnley have now
crashed out of all three cup competitions in the first round. Shareholders complain that
they have not received their annual reports, and it emerges that the Post Office in
Preston has mislaid them. They later find the 994 packages and promise to deliver them.
9/12 CISA react to the annual accounts by
announcing that they are considering stepping up their action against the board. They will
discuss this at a meeting on the 19th. It could include a boycott of matches.
Vinnie Jones says that although he doesn't mind the prospect of dropping down a division,
it would have to be for a side pushing for promotion rather than one stuck at the wrong
end of the table. He says, "Burnley is a massive club, it would be fantastic to get
the crowds back there again," but adds, "I'm not coming for a dog-fight to stay
up." Oh, piss off. John Ward joins Wolves as assistant manager, for now.
10/12 Managerial failure chris waddle is said
to be about to join non-league Workington, where he will join up with his big mate and
fellow Clarets success, Paul Stewart.
11/12 The club announce that David Iven is to
be made the first club President. He comments, "I will still take a great interest in
helping the club in whatever way I can." Ternent says he still thinks we can finish
in the top half of the table. Peter Swan's steroid injection has failed to clear up his
injury and he could now be out until the New Year. However, Jepson and Moore are both said
to be doing well at Lilleshall, while Carl Smith may soon return. Vinnie Jones is now
linked with Irish club Bohemians. Off you go, then.
12/12 Ye gods. Fulham 4 Burnley 0.
Morgan (26, 37), Hayles (58), Peschisolido (73). Team: Crichton, Robertson, O'Kane, Ford,
Heywood, Reid, Armstrong, Hewlett (Maylett 45), Cooke (Henderson 73), Payton, Brass. SNU:
Eastwood. Att: 9,983. We stay 18th. See match report for
details. Will this ever end? Afterwards, Stan Ternent says, "in a word, we were
pathetic. I am disappointed. But I have come to expect it during my time at the football
club. We are very hit and miss and, until such time as I am in a position to strengthen
the team, I am going to have to put up with it. That wasn't my team out there. When I do
get my team you will see a marked difference. This could be a transitional season for
Burnley FC because there are changes being made with the rights issues and stuff upstairs.
Until such a time as that is all sorted out, we have to grin and bear it. They certainly
let me down and they let the supporters and everyone connected with Burnley Football Club
down. And that's what I told them in the dressing room." It's only fair to report
that this is the first time there has been audible dissatisfaction with Ternent amongst
the following. Lee Howey scores Northampton's 1-0 winner against Chesterfield.
14/12 Major news. Teasdale announces he is
stepping down as chairman. Barry Kilby will be the new chairman. This is part of the plan
for the rights issue, which is announced at the same time. The issue is expected to raise
£5.7m. Kilby will take up his full allocation, and those of Teasdale, Holt and
Blakeborough, and will be underwriting the deal to some £3m. He could end up with an
outright majority of shares. Ingleby has not yet made public a decision on his
involvement. He is entitled to buy £1.4m worth of shares. If he does, he will get a seat
on the board. The rights issue will be voted on at the EGM/AGM on 30th
December, with those subscribing having up to 26th January to take up and pay
for their shares. There are 28,714 shares up for grabs at £200 each. Elsewhere, Howey may
be about to join Northampton permanently, but will not be allowed to play against us on
Saturday.
15/12 chris waddle joins Sheffield Wednesday
as a coach. What could he possibly have to pass on? If he wants any "premier
league" players, we've got a couple he might be interested in. Ternent says Jepson
should be back in the New Year. Paul Weller's first operation out of three on his colon is
said to have gone well.
16/12 Kilby says that, although he is not
formally chairman and the money from the rights issue is a while off, there is room for
some flexibility, and if a player we wanted became available, we would try to sign him. He
says of the rights issue, "we are guaranteed a certain amount and I am sure that if
the right player was to become available now, we would be able to look at it. We have
various business plans to deal with each situation." He adds that he had further
"constructive" talks with Ingleby in London last weekend, and says, "I have
no problems with Ray and I have told him I want him to put his money into the club. If he
does that then I will support him coming onto the board." He would be prepared to
allow his nominee (David Parry) to attend board meetings if Ingleby couldn't make it from
New York. Burnley Reserves 1 Tranmere Reserves 1. Phil Eastwood gets the goal.
Thomas Sandal (yes), another Norwegian triallist, plays. Ternent decides not to risk Neil
Moore.
17/12 We sign Ally Pickering from Stoke on a
free transfer for the rest of the season. He's 31 years old and ex of Rotherham and
Coventry (which means he was a "premier league player," of course). He has not
been able to get back into the team at Stoke after picking up a back injury. Although he's
principally a rightback, he can, apparently, play in a number of positions. Why do they
always say that? Ternent describes him as a "pretty good player" and adds that
he's a tried and trusted professional, (which he always says), while Stoke describe it as
a good move for the player. Suppose he can't be the worst Pickering ever to play for
Burnley. His name is short for Albert, by the way.
18/12 Ternent denies that he has bid
£850,000 to sign Nick Daws and ex-Bastard Lenny Johnrose from Bury. Ternent says he did
make an enquiry, but hasn't got that kind of money. As they have both recently signed new
contracts, Bury would probably want more.
19/12 Bloody hell. Burnley 0 Northampton 2.
For the first time ever, the Cobblers come away from Turf Moor with a point - in fact, all
three. Wilkinson (70), Corazzin (81). Team: Crichton, Pickering, O'Kane (Eastwood 76),
Ford, Heywood, Reid, Robertson (Henderson 71), Brass, Cooke, Payton, Armstrong. SNU:
Morgan. You'll have to guess where they all played. Att: 8,783. We fall to 19th.
The team are jeered at the end of the game, although many have already left. Afterwards,
Ternent says, "are we in a relegation fight at the moment? Of course we are. With 24
games to go we find ourselves down among the dead men," but adds, "we’ve
just got to roll our sleeves up and battle through it." He also says he’s not
happy with the jeering, and would prefer encouragement, but "can understand their
reasons."
21/12 Clydebank midfielder Tommy Smith is
linked with the club. He is 25 years old and will be available on a free when his contract
expires in the New Year. Blackpool are also said to be interested.
22/12 Ray Ingleby is said to be considering
legal action in a bid to stop the rights issue going ahead. He is believed to be unhappy
about Kilby underwriting the issue for less than the amount he had offered in his
take-over bid. Ternent now denies that Andy Cooke is to join Bury in a swap deal for Daws
and Johnrose. He says he wants to keep players like Cooke at the club, and hints that Bury
may be being a little mischievous. Andy Payton is not able to train after picking up a
knee injury on Saturday, but Neil Moore has so far suffered no reaction from a couple of
Lancashire League games. Northampton manager Ian Atkins says he'd like to sign Howey but
can't afford the £50,000 fee.
23/12 Gerry Harrison joins Luton from Su'lan'
on a month's loan. The board publicly defend the rights issue in the face of criticism
from former Chairman John Jackson, saying it is an opportunity for fans to support the
club.
24/12 Mark Winstanley and Kevin Henderson
both go to Scunthorpe, Winstanley on loan, Henderson on trial. Both are with a view to
permanent moves. Everton will not allow O'Kane to stay on a third month's loan. Apparently
he is available for transfer, but no enquiry has yet been made. Northampton's move for
Howey may be back on.
26/12 York 3 Burnley 3. Payton (23),
Robertson (59), Armstrong (88) / Hall (54), Rowe (61, 73). Team: Crichton, Pickering,
Morgan, Ford, Brass, Reid (Henderson 89), Robertson, Armstrong, Cooke, Payton, Eastwood
(Swan 75). SNU: Vindheim. Att: 5,630. Clarets play 4-4-2 then 4-3-3, with the wing back
system dropped. We remain 19th. See match report for
details. Before the game, Henderson returns from Scunthorpe, who are unable to pick
him as they already have two players on loan. Howey scores for Northampton again.
28/12 Burnley 1 Lincoln 1. A dire
game. Henderson (80) / Finnigan (73). Team: Crichton, Pickering, Morgan, Ford, Brass,
Reid, Robertson (Maylett 55), Armstrong, Cooke, Swan, Eastwood (Henderson 58). SNU:
Vindheim. Att: 9,635. Incredibly, we move up two places after this, to 17th. See match report for details. Andy Payton is absent after a
hamstring injury sustained in the York game. Peter Swan steps in up front, and when
Henderson comes on we play with three in attack. Reid is sent off in the 88th
minute for two yellow cards.
29/12 Mark Winstanley returns from Scunthorpe
under something of a cloud, having failed to report for training after Saturday's game.
Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws considers the deal at an end.
30/12 Steve Davis re-joins Burnley! The
greatest Burnley player of the Nineties, now thirty, signs a four and a half year deal for
a fee of £750,000, just hours before the AGM. The actual fee may be lower, as Luton may
still owe us some money. Davis says it's great to be back, adding, "the reason I'm
back here now is obviously because I love the club," while Ternent says he will be
making more signings, and has his eye on an unspecified wide player. He comments,
"I've still got three or four players in mind and Steve is the first of them."
He describes Davis as a "no risk signing" and someone who can cope with the
fans' level of expectation. Kilby calls the signing "a marker" of the direction
in which the club wants to go, and says, "we can look forward to more players of the
calibre of Steve coming to the club," if the rights issue is a success. Later, at the
AGM/EGM, the rights issue is overwhelmingly endorsed, albeit after some fierce criticism
of former directors Iven and Rothwell for profiteering from the sale of their shares. Ex
directors Dearing and Jackson call them hypocrites, and challenge them to re-invest the
funds. Rothwell defends himself and Iven for having made Kilby's involvement possible, and
adds that he does not have the money from his shares to reinvest. Ingleby drops his threat
of legal action and expresses his support for the rights issue, with his earthly
representative David Parry seconding the proposal. All but one shareholder votes for it.
Clive Holt is also re-elected unopposed. Kilby and Ingleby will now have further talks in
an attempt to iron out their remaining differences, and Ingleby may buy the £1.4m worth
of shares he is entitled to. Ternent comments at the AGM that he does not believe a
play-off place to be beyond us. He adds that players find it difficult to play at Burnley
because of the level of expectation, and admits Andy Cooke is low on confidence. Paul
Weller is revealed to be ahead of schedule in his treatment, but will still not be back
until next season at the earliest. Kilmarnock are said to be interested in Lee Howey.
31/12 Further rumours of new signings have
Cooke plus £300,000 now allegedly being offered for the two Bury players and the Vinnie
Jones deal back on
