1/1 Happy New Year my arse. Burnley 1 Wolves 2, making it five
straight defeats, and a victory at Turf Moor for John Ward. Scorers: Branch 9 / Proudlock
28, Naylor 85. Team: Michopoulos, Thomas, Armstrong, Cox, Smith, Mellon, Johnrose (Jepson
87), Weller, Branch, Payton (Maylett 54), Moore (Mullin 75). SNU: Brass and Crichton. Att:
15,483. We stay 10th. See our match report. After
the match, Ternent criticises the crowd for booing Jepson’s introduction to the game.
Somewhat missing the point, he says, "I've said that the supporters are an integral
part of our team and the vast majority of the supporters understand the situation. But you
do get a few morons who are booing players and things like that which I think are totally
uncalled for. I could say all nice things about them and they are entitled to this, that
and the other but nobody in my view should treat a fellow human being like that when he's
going on and trying to do his best for Burnley Football Club. He adds, "The fact of
the matter is we had 17 fit players and two of those are goalkeepers." Andy Cooke
scores for Stokey. Former Clarets hero Andy Marriott goes to Wigan on loan from
Su’lan’.
2/1 From the department of daft rumours: it’s said we might
take David Johnson on loan from Ipswich.
3/1 Burnley FC issue a statement saying that both racism and foul
language will not be tolerated at Turf Moor. It reads, "The football club will not
tolerate behaviour in the form of obscene language, racial abuse and racist chanting…
Turf Moor has to be a safe place to watch football and the club will continue to be
proactive in making this a family led club enabling supporters to enjoy their football in
a safe and secure stadium." Offences could be punished with a life ban. So racist
abuse and the odd swearword are equivalent now? Ternent continues his PR offensive. He
says, "We have had numerous managers in the last thirteen years. Jimmy Mullen came in
and they turned on Jimmy, so he went. Before that we had Frank Casper, they turned on him
and he was one of them. Then we had Adrian Heath and John Ward, and if John Ward had done
such a good job at Wolves then he would be still in a job. Adrian Heath did nothing here.
He won nothing. chris waddle came and he had to win a game to stay up. I have come in and
we maintained our status in the second division in the first year, in my second year we
got automatic promotion and this season come Christmas time we are in the top half of the
division and they are still moaning. I don't think they are entitled to moan considering
how far we have come in the last two years. If they want to moan then fine… The away
support has been fantastic but the home support has been indifferent. This is my adopted
town and the Burnley public like a moan and they are entitled to have their opinion... The
ones I have been calling morons I think it is warranted. I say if the cap fits wear it. I
am not talking about all the supporters. I am talking about the mindless few. As far as I
am concerned they are morons and I do not want to retract that. If they want to be part of
the team then let's stick together and get on with it… I have said my piece and how
people react to it is up to them. I hope people can get behind the players and the team.
Stan Ternent is not important but Burnley FC is and together we can make it happen."
It’s said current Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler might be prepared to sell Carl
Asaba.
4/1 It’s confirmed that the Deadwood Park rematch will be Sky
televised. The kick off is moved to 12 o’clock. As Forest put in a £2.5m bid for
David Johnson, it hardly looks likely he’ll be coming to Burnley. The cricket club
plans are presented to Burnley council, except those members who childishly boycott the
meeting.
5/1 Phil Jevons, apparently a young Everton striker, is the latest
name in the frame. No truth in it, as usual.
6/1 Burnley 2 Scunthorpe 2 in the FA Cup Third Round.
Scorers: Moore (45), Johnrose (90) / Hodges (2), Ipoua (47). Team: Michopoulos, Thomas,
Davis, Cox, Smith, Weller, Cook (Johnrose 64), Mellon (Payton 51), Branch (Little 51),
Mullin, Moore. SNU: Crichton and Jepson. Att: 8,054. See our match
report. Of our defence, Ternent comments, "It's times like this I wish I was a
joiner or something," while Brian Laws, prone to occasional exaggeration, says,
"It will be the crime of the century if we don't get through." Ternent says
about Ian Moore, "I need to get someone up there to give him a lift." The youth
team actually play. And lose 1-0 to Preston.
7/1 If we beat Scunthorpe in the replay, we are drawn to play
Bolton at the ‘Reebok Stadium’ in the FA Cup fourth round. Isn’t the FA Cup
boring this season? Strong rumours of an (unspecified) signing abound.
8/1 The ‘Andy Payton off to Wigan rumour’ comes back. Is
there anything new? Well, we’re supposed to be after Carlton Palmer, despite him
currently being on loan at Watford from Coventry, while Blackpool are forced to deny
rumours that they are set to alleviate their goalscoring problems by signing Ronnie
Jepson. Hey, he’s never played for them. But at 37, they say, "His age rules him
out of our category."
9/1 Mark Rivers, 25 year old Crewe striker, is another, thankfully
new, link. The council defers a decision on the sale of Fulledge Rec until March, after
receiving a number of objections from residents. Talks continue.
10/1 Burnley play a Manu XI in a behind closed doors friendly at
their training ground. It finishes a morale boosting Manu XI 7 Burnley 1. Our goal
is a Glen Little penalty, of all things, and we are only 2-1 down at half time. Briscoe
makes a comeback which lasts all of a few minutes; he’s taken off with a hamstring
injury. Maylett also picks up a thigh strain, but at least Little emerges unscathed.
Jeanne Dougal, the widow of former Burnley manager Billy Dougal, dies aged 100. Mrs Dougal
still lived in the town. Her husband was a player, manager and phyiso of Burnley, having
been the manager before Harry Potts took over, and part of the backroom staff before and
after. Another player we’re linked with is Man City midfielder Tony Grant, who has
been on loan at West Brom. Ternent is supposed to have been watching Bury’s 18 year
old player Chris Armstrong. Yes, he is Gordon’s brother.
11/1 A French striker is confirmed to have joined on trial.
He’s Eugene Dadi, and he’s currently on the books of Toulouse, having joined
them last summer from LASK Linz of Austria for £500,000. Despite the fact that Toulouse
are at the bottom of the French first division, he's hardly featured for them. Dadi is
originally from Cote d’Ivoire, is 27, and figured in the Manu friendly. His agent
describes him as the new Frederic Kanoute. He would do, wouldn't he?
12/1 Ooh Aah Marlon Beresford goes to Sheffield Wednesday on loan
from TV Middlesbrough. Speculation says that Ternent and Ferguson may have had a chat
around the time of our friendly with a view to us taking a couple of their kids on loan.
Jonathon Greening is one name suggested. The rumour that we're to sign Liam George of
Luton comes up again. The club ask for those buying Crewe away tickets to produce away
ticket stubs.
13/1 Gillingham 0 Burnley 0. Team: Michopoulos, Davis,
Thomas, Cox, Cook, Mullin (Little 46), Johnrose, Weller, Smith, Branch, Moore. SNU:
Armstrong, Crichton, Mellon, Payton. Att: 9,331. We stay 10th, but, finally, we have
39 rather than 38 points. See our match report. Asaba plays for
them, but speculation persists that he’ll be joining us. Burnley youth actually play
for two successive weeks - and lose 3-1 at Preston. Get that report done, Stan.
15/1 Two strong and conflicting stories about Andy Payton abound.
One suggests a deal has been done to sell him to Wigan, possibly in exchange for Simon
Howarth. The other says he will be sold when another striker arrives shortly, probably to
Notts County. We’re linked with 22 year old Blackpool full back John Hills.
16/1 Burnley issue a statement saying that Andy Payton is not for
sale. Barry Kilby says, "It's news to me, and I am the Chairman. There is no truth in
that report. A lie gets out and it's halfway around the world before the truth is
reported. There is no truth in him leaving Turf Moor and I can state that he remains a
Burnley player. I am baffled how stories like this get out." Our game at Scunthorpe
is called off after a 6.50 pitch inspection. Scunthorpe had insisted all day that the
match was not in doubt. Ternent fumes, "It's like a skating rink. I can't believe
they've asked us to travel across with the state of the pitch… You couldn't have a
game of football on there. You could have a game of ice hockey it… It's a joke that
they've asked us to travel to be fair. I understand it from Lawsy's side of a thing. If
they get us on a pitch like that they've got a better chance. It's just unfortunate but it
isn't fair on the fans and it's nothing to do with Burnley Football Club. It's ridiculous
to even come across. We have a responsibility to our fans, especially. They're knocking
off early from work and don't let them tell you it's a frost come down. They know what the
forecast is. We've travelled across and we're wasting our time…. What about all our
fans? It's absolute nonsense." Brian Laws does little to shake off his reputation for
one eyed barminess by insisting, "I've seen harder pitches in August, and if the
referee has the foresight to see what is going to happen with the weather, maybe I should
get him to put my lottery numbers on… Maybe he saw the faces of the Burnley players
and thought they didn't fancy it." There was a time when Burnley supporters used to
like him. Michopoulos would have missed the game with a knee injury. Meanwhile, as if to
prove that the world finally has gone mad, whoever wins the replay will now play at Bolton
at 1pm on Sunday January 28. The reason? It's Brisbane Broncoes v St Helens rugby league
at the 'Reebok Stadium' on Friday night, and they'll need time to turn it back into a
football pitch on the Saturday. Bolton should hang their heads in shame.
17/1 Burnley Reserves 1 Bolton Reserves 2. John Boardman scores our
goal, and the team is Mawson, West, Armstrong, Brass, Williamson, Kevan, Maylett, Mellon
(Leeson 48), Shandran, Scott (Boardman 45), Devenney (Pilkington 45). SNU: E Davis and
Paxton. Dadi doesn’t play, as we haven’t received international clearance. He
had earlier said, showing an excellent command of the language, "I have enjoyed
training with the Burnley players. They are good footballers with fine ability. I know of
Burnley's heritage and how they would like to play at the highest level in England."
The Scunthorpe match is rearranged for a week after the postponed game.
18/1 Dadi flounces back to France before international clearance
can be arranged. It’s all a bit mysterious, although there’s speculation that he
was expecting a deal, and it seems we won't get clearance unless we commit ourselves to
him.
19/1 Ternent confirms he won’t be pursuing Dadi. He says he
might have had to take him on a three month loan to pick him.
20/1 At last, a win. Burnley 2 Barnsley 1. Scorers: Johnrose
(23), Payton (61) / Hayward (77). Team: Michopoulos, Thomas, Davis, Cox, Branch (Little
69), Weller, Cook (Armstrong 84), Johnrose, Ball, Payton (Mullin 81), Moore. SNU: Crichton
and Mellon. Att: 15,380. We go 9th. See our match report.
Andy Payton comments, "I remember scoring a goal for them here against Burnley a few
years ago so I suppose it was nice to redress that." Of the enduring rumours, he goes
on, " It doesn't unsettle me at all because there's no truth it. I don't know where
the stories come from, but it's never a decent club is it? I think there are only nine
players in the history of the club who have scored 100 goals for them so I want to do
that". Cox and Mellon both get booked, and will miss the game at Crewe.
22/1 Matthew Heywood joins
Swindon on a free transfer. Heywood, 21, hadn't played since the 1998/99 crisis season. He
had been on trial last week, playing a game for their reserves.
He made his debut in the infamous home defeat against York, coming
on as a half time sub for Steve Blatherwick, who was one of the four players told that day
that they would never play for Burnley again. He played in 13 league games for Burnley,
his last appearance being as a sub for Peter Swan at High Wycombe in February 1999. Meanwhile, our hopes of signing Asaba diminish, as Crystal
Palace agree a fee of £750,000. There's tepid speculation that Dadi might come back for
another go, and we're linked with Mansfield striker Chris Greenacre.
23/1 Scunthorpe 1 Burnley 1 AET in the FA Cup.
Scorers: Payton (53) / Dawson (82). Team: Michopoulos, Thomas, Davis, Cox, Branch, Weller,
Cook (Little 53), Johnrose (Armstrong 119), Ball, Payton (Mullin 110), Moore. SNU: Brass
and Crichton. Att: 4,709.
See
our match report. Scunthorpe go through after
the penalty shoot out goes to sudden death and finishes 5-4 in their favour, with Ball
missing the crucial penalty. Both sides' first penalties are missed, Davis taking ours,
while Little, Armstrong, Moore and Mullin put theirs away. To make things worse, the game
is broadcast live on both Radio Five and Talk Sport. After allegedly gesturing towards
supporters and falling out with a steward who won't let him see the referee, Ternent
rants, "We had two penalty appeals - the first I'm not sure about, but the second
I've watched on a video on the coach and it's a blatant penalty. The assessor has gone in
and said the referee had a fantastic game. I beg to differ. It's us and them, and I can't
even get to see the referee, and it's half an hour after the game. I've got a guy on the
door who works for Scunny, nothing to do with the FA. I want to see the ref and the
assessor is calling the shots. What's going on in the game? I've had enough with them
because they are driving me round the twist - and a lot of other managers as well - Wenger
included, Warnock, all of us. We've had a bellyful of them. I want to talk to him and tell
him that I won't be marking him particularly well, and I always do that because I thought
he had a poor match… And what about the fans? Payts had a hamstring and the fans were
booing when he's going off. How does John Mullin feel coming on? What do these people
want? I showed a bit of displeasure because I've had enough of it. It's a long way into
the match and what do they think I do it for - to lose a game? They are unbelievable.
Normally away from home they are great, but perhaps it's time up for me - what do you
think? I took them from the Third Division, steadied the ship, got them promoted, we're in
the top 30 clubs in the country and they are still moaning. Christ almighty, let's have
the job right. I can't even get in to see the referee and I'm a football manager. Who is
running the game of football now? Players and managers are at the bottom of the pile and
we've got assessors and stewards who are amateur people in a professional game. It's
unbelievable what's going on." Speaking before the game, Brian Laws cements his
increasingly barking reputation by commenting, "I would like to make one thing clear.
There is no animosity between myself and Stan Ternent… I've heard many stories going
around that we had a bust up regarding Tuesday, which is an absolute load of rubbish. Stan
Ternent made his views clear to the referee. He didn't think the pitch was playable but he
would have agreed if the referee had said yes. His players did moan towards the referee
and I feel that was the significant factor for the referee to change his mind because at
that moment in time we could get a good stud into the pitch." Thomas gets a booking,
which means he will be suspended for Palace at home. Chris Brass is rumoured to be
interesting Northampton, perhaps for a loan period. Asaba's move to Palace falls through
after a failure to agree personal terms. And, as if the evening isn't depressing enough,
it looks as though we'll be playing in the Isle of Man tournament again this summer.
24/1 Burnley Reserves 1 Huddersfield Reserves 4.
Shandran scores our late consolation against a side containing many first teamers. James
Gledhill, on trial, plays for us. Team: Crichton, West, Pilkington (Leeson 54), Brass,
Boardman, Mullin, Maylett, Mellon, Shandran, Gledhill (Devenney 54), Smith. SNU: Kevan,
Mawson, Scott.
25/1 The official opening of Harry Potts Way is
set for 10 February, before the home game against Crystal Palace. Triallist James Gledhill
is revealed to be a Huddersfield-born striker, currently on a scholarship at the
University of Mobile, Alabama. Ternent says he isn't in a rush to make new signings. He
comments, "My idea is that I'm preparing for a First Division campaign, certainly
next season. That hasn't been achieved yet so it would be foolish to go out and pay First
Division wages… Once we've achieved First Division status I will speak to the board
and look at the situation. They have said that there is money available but I won't
squander it…. A quick fix isn't needed… With the financial implications of
things we have to walk before we can run." He adds that he'll think about offering
new contracts to those players whose current contracts are set to expire once he's certain
what division we'll be in next year. A very fine time is had by all - we think - at the
London Clarets' 25th anniversary pub crawl of AGM venues.
26/1 Filling a quiet news day, Ternent
speculates about the possibility of Michopoulos adding to his 17 Greek caps. He says,
"He's a top-class keeper and if continues to play like that we might struggle to hang
on to him." Of his international prospects, he adds, "The way he's playing you'd
think they would have to have a look at it. They must have some good goalkeepers if he
can't get in. He's been absolutely blinding."
27/1 While we don't have a game, recent
departees Cooke, Eyres, Henderson and Lee all score for their current clubs, and Mark Ford
is entertainingly sent off for Torquay. Glen Little trains over the weekend in a bid to
get back to fitness. The club is to have talks with a local planning officer in the hope
of preparing an acceptable bid for the development of the Gawthorpe training facilities.
28/1 Sunday press speculation says that Ternent
may quit at the end of the season, when his contract expires. An interesting story, spoilt
only by the fact that Ternent signed a contract extension up to the end of the 2002/03
season in December.
29/1 A public meeting on the proposed move of
Burnley Cricket Club to Fulledge Rec, to allow the redevelopment of their ground at Turf
Moor, is planned for 19 February. It is also announced that there will be a petition in
support of the move available for fans to sign. Like a dog with a bone, mad old Brian Laws
just won't let it drop. Despite his side getting hammered by Bolton in the fourth round of
the cup, he can't stop talking about the third. He burbles, "I have a lot of
affection for Burnley and I'm not going to rubbish the club because it's not their fault.
As far as I'm concerned the fact we won proved that highly paid footballers who aren't
bothered about results shouldn't start belittling lower division sides. There is no place
for jibes like 'my bank balance is bigger than yours' on a football pitch. It's like being
at school when kids say 'my dad is bigger than yours.' I thought football was supposed to
be an adult's game. At the end of the day my players showed tremendous restraint and great
attitude. We might be a Third Division side but I wouldn't swap any of my players for Stan
Ternent's." Ternent responds in a dignified manner. He says, "When you are a
young manager making your way in the game you learn quickly not to take about other
people's teams. I haven't seen it and I won't be drawn into that but one of the golden
rules of management is that you don't talk about other people's teams."
30/1 Barnsley Reserves 0 Burnley Reserves 2.
Scorers are Shandran and a Neil Austin own goal. Cox is given a run out prior to his
forthcoming suspension. Team: Crichton, West, Armstrong, Brass, Cox, Boardman, Maylett,
Mullin, Shandran, Johnrose, Pilkington. Subs: Devenney, Kevan, Mawson, Scott, Williamson.
Andrew Watson suggests that ticket prices will rise next season. Speaking, naturally, on
the official site, he says, "We are currently discussing all relevant issues and our
pricing policy. We have concluded a survey of season ticket prices from the clubs in our
division. In all cases we are bottom of the league in terms of prices and if we are to
sustain our position at this level we need to consider our income streams… One of the
vital areas is the wage bill. The clubs who are currently leading the first division have
the biggest wage demands. The largest in the first division is around the £20m mark and
six to seven clubs are over £10m. Our wage bill is around the £5m mark and clearly we
have to go beyond that if we want to take the club to another level." No prizes for
guessing which club pays £20m a year in wages. Season tickets will again go on sale in
April. Hopes of a Lee Briscoe comeback are put on hold as he once again injures a
hamstring in training. Micky Mellon is grounded by a bout of chicken pox. Former Claret
David Eyres, having impressed at Oldham, signs a new contract to keep him there until the
end of the 2001-02 season, by which time he'll be 38. Yep, that waddle decision to let him
go because of his age just keeps looking sounder and sounder.
31/1 The Preston home match is moved to Friday 6
April, with a 7.45 kick off, to be shown on Sky tv. Once again, football's paymasters have
intervened, making it harder and more expensive for people like us to support Burnley. If
you think this is getting ridiculous, wait until we play on Thursdays and Sunday nights
next season. Burnley will now be on the tv twice in one week, with the Deadwood Park
revenge mission scheduled for Sunday 1 April. Let's hope our televised record improves
quickly. Ternent says, "I have three players missing through suspension and Ronnie
Jepson has a calf strain. That's five players who are unavailable." And we are not
going to comment on that.
