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1/6 Fulham's Kevin Ball and Luton's Phil Gray are further names to bubble up as idle speculation fills the news vacuum. Ball is 35, Gray a mere 31, and it isn't unknown for us to sign Luton players.

2/6 Little is said to be close to signing. His comments are: "I have never had a problem with anyone at Burnley and I'm not looking to get out of the door. Everyone knows I could see this year out and then decide what I want to do, but it works both ways. A lot can happen in a year. I have spoken to the gaffer and everything is fine. We're not far off. We're both on the same sort of wavelength." It could be two boat trips to the Priestfield next season, as the long-running soap opera that is Crystal Palace announce they are in talks to move out of Selhurst Park and groundshare with Gillingham.

3/6 The London Clarets' visit to Farnham and Wrecclesham is a predictable hoot. See the photos.

5/6 Ian Wright is said to have decided to retire, bizarrely choosing to announce his decision on next Friday's 'Springer' television show. The leak would appear to have come from an Arsenal fan present at the recording. Ben Thornley of Huddersfield is the latest player in whom we're alleged to be interested. £650,000 value and Preston are, as ever, also said to be keen.

6/6 We have now sold 10,600 season tickets, breaking 10,000 for the first time. 3,300 of them are to children with the £35 ticket, compared to 1,500 at last season’s higher price. Paul Robinson, the young Newcastle striker with whom we are linked before, is a disinterred rumour around town. Steve Bruce, currently manager of Huddersfield, says he hasn't had any enquiries about Thornley and is looking to keep his squad together. Ternent is alleged to have told Pe'eree' of Su'lan' that Little is not for sale. A new supporters club is launched for Burnley supporters in the Preston and Chorley area - Central Lancashire Clarets. We wish them well.

7/6 Ian Wright is confirmed to be retiring. According to a press release from the 'Springer' show, he says, "It's a really hard decision because I've got all the people in Burnley, the manager is a close friend and I've made really good friends up there, but on the other hand my little girl is growing more and more naughty and she doesn't even listen to me because she hardly ever sees me. My family are the major factors in me not playing anymore, plus I have had a very good career and it is other people's turn now." His retirement is widely reported. Match ticket prices, both full and concession, are to rise by a further £1 across the board. This is in addition to the price rises announced before the end of the season, when it was signalled that prices would go up again if we went up. Harry Potts Longside Upper will now cost £17 (£9 concessions), Harry Potts Longside Lower £15 (£8), Jimmy McIlroy Beehole Upper £13 (£7), Jimmy McIlroy Beehole Lower £12 (£7) and South (Bob Lord) Stand £16 (£8.50). Season ticket prices will not undergo a second rise, meaning a further saving of £23 for anyone who buys one. The club say this will help us to compete in a higher division, and our prices will still be lower than most Division One clubs.

8/6 Did we say confirmed? Mark Bright, an old friend of Wright's, is wheeled out on the morning's Radio Five, but instead of running through the expected clichés says it's not what he's heard. Says Brighty, "It’s not true, I spoke to him yesterday... The Jerry Springer show is pre-recorded and he’s said that probably on Monday or Tuesday… He’s got to have an operation on Monday on his ankle and once that is done and he sees how his recovery is then he will make a final decision... Bear in mind that Ian will say one thing on Monday, another on Tuesday and another thing Wednesday... Obviously with it being Burnley it is such a jaunt for him and he says he’s leaning towards retirement because of his family and he feels he’s achieved enough in the game - he has much more to do outside of football... His objective in going to Burnley was to help them gain promotion and to play a part in that. He did it for Stan Ternent. Stan was a coach with us at Crystal Palace and we really enjoyed working with him... But I know what he is like - he’ll get the smell of liniment and hear the rattle of studs and will probably end up saying I’ll have another go just until Christmas. Or maybe the surgeon will do his ankle and he’ll come back and think right that’s enough. Watch this space." Barry Kilby later says that Wright and Ternent are due to meet at the end of June, and points out that Wright is still a Burnley player for the rest of the month. He adds the 'Springer' programme was recorded two weeks back and Wright merely repeated what he said at the start of the season. Both Ternent and Wright are currently on holiday. Is this an evil ploy to get us all watching 'Springer'? P3 announce that they will not be sponsoring the club next season. They say, "The club was rock bottom and looked destined for a spell in the third division. Although they managed to escape due to events on the last day of the season, there was a general disenchantment in the town. We were in our infancy as a company and the sponsorship represented a massive decision at the time. We knew the club's predicament and put our money where our mouth is – actually paying for the first year up front. Being keen fans we wanted to help out and we also felt that having our name emblazoned across the Clarets’ shirts would help raise our profile throughout the region. We were very hopeful of continuing the sponsorship, however Burnley Football Club have declined our offer, and there is not a great deal more we can do. However, our support for the Clarets, both individually and collectively, is guaranteed and we are keen to maintain close relations with the club." In return, the club say they, "were unable to reach an agreement for Division one football. Everyone at Burnley Football Club would sincerely like to thank P3 for their sponsorship." All very gentlemanly.

9/6 The fans are given a chance to vote for next season's away shirt via a poll on the official website. There is a choice of three: white with a bit of blue and green, green and blue and, hmm, a blue and Claret shirt with Claret shorts. Wonder what they expect the winner to be? Alan Fettis, York's ex-Blackburn goalkeeper, is supposed to be joining us. Lots of Clarets watch 'Springer' for the first time, and give thanks that Wright is first on. Wright says what was previously tailed, but does not give a definite answer when asked if he is planning to retire, saying, "I think I am." He also says, "I am at the stage now when it has happened for me in football. I have done everything I set out to achieve in football. I feel my wife and children have sacrificed maybe enough over the years for my career. So if I do make a decision to stop this season, which I think I will, I think I will. I had four different clubs in one season just trying to find a place where I could find any sort of success. At the end I found it with Burnley. I was pleased they got promoted, it was wonderful for them."

10/6 Wright's agent, Jerome Anderson, finally (?) closes the door, saying, "We can categorically confirm that Ian Wright has retired from professional football for family reasons as well as to pursue his television career." Unless you hear otherwise after this point, assume Wright has retired.

11/6 Weekend newspaper rumours have Ternent linked with the Sheffield Wednesday job. While it's seemed odd that the two other promotion winning managers, Moyes and Taylor, have been in demand and ours hasn't, we don't believe a word of it. In the final of the Australian play-offs, Wollongong somehow play Perth again (uh?). Mark Robertson comes on at half time with Wollongong 3-0 down and is credited with turning the game round. It finishes 3-3 and Wollongong win the title on penalties, Robertson scoring the second.

12/6 We're now 'linked' with Andy Morrison, 29 year old central defender of Man City, who has missed eight months with a knee injury and still requires a minor operation. Joe Royle, however, says he's no plans to sell and thinks Morrison can play in the premier league.

13/6 Kilby is quick to make clear that Ternent will not be leaving. He says, "We rate Stan very highly and we hope he's our manager for many years to come, and that they are successful ones. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. There's been no approach and as far as I'm concerned it's someone flying a kite." Sheffield Wednesday are also quick to deny. It's said Ron Noades tried to persuade Ian Wright to join Brentford next season with a salary linked to attendances, but Wright declined. The club adopt a CISA proposal that any supporters' club member entitled to a 10% club shop discount may henceforth waive the discount and donate the amount to the Gawthorpe fund.

14/6 Gareth Taylor of Man City is 'linked' with us. He's 27 and nowhere near next season's first team, although he started nine games and scored six times in 1999-2000 for City, and is available for circa £300,000. He previously played for Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace and Sheffield Utd and went out on loan to Port Vale and QPR in the season just gone. However, it's said that Man City intend to keep Andy Morrison. Wollongong Wolves are said to want to keep Mark Robertson, with other Australian clubs likely to be interested.

15/6 Wright's operation to clear up his ankle problem is successful, so he'd be fit to play again if he hadn't retired. Gordon Armstrong is also said to be coming back to fitness after a similar operation. Peter Pike MP wins praise from Sport Minister Kate Hoey in the House of Commons for Burnley's £35 child season ticket scheme. Our Honorary President suggests other clubs should follow Burnley's example. Ternent is due to return from holiday tomorrow, so we might start seeing some moves soon.

16/6 Stan Ternent is 54. Happy birthday Stan. He is planning a trip to London aimed at persuading Ian Wright to change his mind and stay at the club. Of press speculation about his future, he says that it's "flattering", but he has work to do at Burnley. Mark Robertson is recalled to the Australian Under-23 squad following his performances for Wollongong Wolves.

17/6 The London Clarets' annual summer day out in Lewes. A fine time is had by all. See the photos.

19/6 Ternent says we will not signing another goalkeeper this summer, despite rumours about Alan Fettis. However, things may changes as the season progresses. He adds, "The players deserve a chance, although sentiment doesn't come into it. We have to stay in the First Division. If neither is good enough I will go out and get another one." Ian Wright is interviewed at Wimbledon - tennis, not football - and says he doesn't want to do an Ian Rush and play on too long.

20/6 Sam Ellis is undergoing rehabilitation work with Ian Liversedge and plans to be back as Ternent's assistant for the start of pre-season training. Ellis has been away from the club a lot since having an operation on a back disc in January. England crash out of Euro 2000, but there is an excellent Burnley FC flag on tv about 20 minutes into the game.

21/6 Mark Robertson turns down his new contract offer. Apparently he wants a three year deal rather than the two which have been offered. Although he would be out of contract on 1^st July, as he is 23 the Bosman ruling does not apply. Ternent says that he will not be improving the offer. He has written to Robertson setting out why he should stay with us. Is anyone that bothered? The club's EGM duly gives the go ahead to the changes that will enable the club to sell financial products. These will be available from the town centre shop 'Turf Moor in Town' shortly.

22/6 The fixtures come out. The season's opening game sees us make a debut trip to Bolton's 'Reebok' Stadium, and we finish at home to Watford. The Blackburn games, in case you were wondering, are home 16^th December and away 31^st March - but both will be moved. Paul Jewell is appointed new Manager of Sheffield Wednesday, whereupon their erstwhile assistant caretaker flounces out, angry at not being considered. And so chris waddle, a plump fellow these days, takes another step into obscurity. Bad news for the six points at stake when we play them, though.

23/6 A new tv deal is agreed between the Nationwide League and ITV and ONdigital. Set to replace the previous deal with Sky from the 2001/2002 season, it looks to be worth around £3 million to each First Division club, compared to the £500,000 Second Division clubs will get. Currently, First Division clubs get £800,000 and Second Division clubs £300,000. If anyone ever doubted the importance of getting into, and staying in, Division One, they needn't now. Barry Kilby underlines the point, saying, "It's a vital season for us. The gap is ever wider between the haves and the have nots. I would sooner be up there than trying to get up there. It's easier not to be thrown out of the boat than to try and climb into it." The package will include pay per view games on ONdigital and - here comes the catch - Thursday night matches and Sunday kick offs at 6 pm, an idea tried and found to be unworkable in Scotland. The new away strip is chosen and to no one's great surprise, it is the Claret short and Blue shirt model, with 1,175 out of 1,525 votes. Rumours that the other two makeweights were in fact Wigan's home and away shirts and that the winning shirt was already in production cannot be confirmed. Meanwhile, Ternent says he can't understand why Blackburn are favourites to win the division.

25/6 Ian Wright's 'This Is Your Life' appearance is repeated on BBC 1. Surprisingly heartwarming stuff, as it happens.

26/6 The only recently launched official Burnley website is pulled after a dispute between Burnley FC and the site operators. The site now says, "THE OFFICIAL BURNLEY FC WEBSITE IS TEMPORARILY OFFLINE. Apologies to Clarets Fans wishing to access the Official Burnley FC website. Owing to the current argy bargy between the managements of Clarets Online and Burnley Football Club, a decision has been made by Clarets Online to temporarily suspend this service until further notice." The dispute would seem to be connected with NTL's new deal to provide an internet portal super site for Nationwide League clubs. NTL will pay rights fees and a share of the profits for any club that signs up, in return for bringing national advertising to club websites. Burnley have signed, with the hope of making £800,000 from the three year deal, and possibly more if the venture, a joint company between NTL and the Nationwide League, is floated. The next version of the website will be the fourth attempt at an official Burnley site, which smacks of something less than efficiency. Hull say they are unaware of any Burnley interest in their 25 year-old defender and player of the year Mark Greaves. Ternent has had 'informal talks' with Andy Cooke.

27/6 Sky are said to be considering showing our home game against Blackburn live on tv. Ternent says there won't be any players joining the club on July 1^st under the Bosman ruling, unlike last year. The club say that the new shirt sponsorship deal will be, it will be a record one for the club. Andrew Watson tells sponsors and backers that the target for turnover next year is £8.2 million, having reached £5.6 million last year. Ingleby says that he hopes £1 million profit will be generated from the new telecom business, with a target turnover of £10 million. Further ways to pour money into the club have also been launched. Individual player sponsorships of £500 each are now up for grabs, as is a pre-match 'Clarets Club' hospitality package taking in lunch at Rosehill House Hotel, a coach to the game and a bar. This is a response to the fact that pre-match hospitality at Turf Moor is just about sold out. A monthly Clarets Lunch Club has also been set up for local business people. No one can say we're not trying to shake a few extra quid out of them. The club won't, however, be developing further executive boxes in the Jimmy McIlroy stand this year, as that will cost £500,000 but will only raise £300,000 a season. It's all about making as much money as possible next season. Some refurbishment to toilets and refreshment facilities in the Bob Lord Stand will, however, go ahead.

28/6 The home derby is duly rearranged for Sunday 17 December, to be shown on Sky. However, a new kick off time of 4 o'clock gives cause for concern. There had always been an assumption that the game would have an early kick off time for reasons of safety, but Sky have Manu v Liverpool on at one, so we must fit in. Doubtless they'll be quick to condemn any trouble which occurs. Strong rumours spread that our new sponsor is to be a division of Time Computers, despite the fact that they are Blackburn's new sponsors.

29/6 It seems to be the time for moving games. The away game at Blackburn is now moved to a Sunday, kicking off at the sensible time of 11 am on 1^st April. The away game at Tranmere is moved forward to a Friday night - curses! - with a new slot of 7.45 on 6^th October. This is because England are playing Germany in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday afternoon. Ever get the feeling you've been here before? The Cricket Field Stand is now sponsored and 'renamed' the Lookers Volkswagen Stand. The club announce that we have now sold our 11,000^th season ticket. Burnley confirm that they are approaching other companies to re-re-re-launch their official website. The latest player we're allegedly about to sign is Scott Green, a 30 year old Wigan defender. Ian Cox will miss the pre-season Isle of Man games if he decides to make himself available for Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup qualifying games instead. Hmm, IOM or the Caribbean… tricky one.

30/6 Glen Little signs his three year contract extension, meaning he is now contracted to Burnley for the next four years. Hats off, gentlemen! Speaking in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Little says " I never really intended to leave anyway. The manager said he wants me to stay so it was as simple as that. It was just a matter of sorting things out."