1/6 Dunfermline, relegated from the Scottish
premier league, are said to want Brian Reid, but are worried that their demotion may have
cost them their chance of signing him. Ternent says that he hopes the young players will
be pushing for first team places next season.
2/6 Kevin Henderson is in talks with Hartlepool. It looks like a tussle between them
and Halifax. Halifax’s manager Mark Lillis was previously with Scunthorpe, who tried
to sign Henderson last season. Target Nick Daws looks set to sign his new deal at Bury.
More pre-season games are lined up, with Man City at home on Saturday 17th July
and (yikes) Carlisle Away on Saturday 31st. A Burnley XI sides will play away
games at Northwich, Morecombe and Accrington on July 15th, 20th and
29th respectively. John Benson is confirmed as full time Wigan boss. They say
he would have got the job last time but for a health scare, the utter fools.
3/6 The club deny any interest in Ade Akinbiyi. We are instead linked with a player who
always scores against us, Bristol Rovers’ Jamie Cureton. It’s even suggested
that the Akinbiyi story was a smokescreen to cover up our true intentions. However,
Bristol Rovers say he’s not for sale, and it would have to be a huge bid to tempt
them. Cureton, the second division’s leading scorer, could cost £2,000,000 and would
expect to move to a higher division. Sounds like yet another non-starter. Brian Reid is
briefly said to be about to sign for Portsmouth. Henderson joins Hartlepool on a two year
contract. It emerges that the club are only selling the new team shirts through the
official club shop and via the internet, and that local retailers, including Peter Noble,
are not allowed to sell them.
4/6 Ternent gives Mark Robertson until the middle of the month to decide if we wants to
sign a new contract. Robertson, currently back in Australia ahead of his wedding, will
cost money if he decides to move on, as he’s under 24. Ternent also reveals that he
has given the players a summer fitness programme. All the players except the injured Peter
Swan will be required to train two days a week, either at the club or by themselves, in
order to be fit at the start of the pre-season training on 5th July . Ternent used to do
this at Bury. He’s also looking forward to having Lenny Johnrose fit next season,
saying "It will be like having a new player." Alleged target Mark Williams is
now also wanted by Watford, following their shock promotion to the premier league. He says
Watford and Burnley have contacted his agent so far. Warren Joyce's Hull sell goalkeeper
Andrew Oakes to Derby for £500,000. Yes, the one we released a few years ago. Snapped up
by Hull for a song from non-league Winsford, he now becomes the third Clarets youth reject
on the books of a premier league club. Hull are also after Gerry Harrison, but it seems
Su'lan' want £100,000 for a player they got for nowt and haven't played. Portsmouth deny
being interested in Reid.
7/6 Latest speculation says that Glen Little will be moving to Charlton. Their manager
Alan Curbishley is, however, quick to deny it. He says he wants a left sided player, and
Little is not in his thoughts. The club are said to have a bid £300,000 for Everton's
third choice keeper Paul Gerrard, previously with Oldham. Mullin is now alleged to be on
the brink of signing a deal with Man City. Blackpool seem to have lost interest in Ford.
Adrian Heath’s hopes of getting the Sheffield Utd job face a setback when the club
ask Macclesfield permission to speak to Sammy McIlroy, who has said he wants to leave.
This is despite earlier reports that Heath had impressed at the interview.
8/6 Our bid for Gerrard is rejected. The injury to Everton’s first choice
goalkeeper Thomas Mhyre is badly timed, and they may prefer to raise cash by selling the
more expensive Steve Simonsen. Brian Reid signs a three year contract at Dunfermline of
the Scottish First Division. He has, therefore, moved down a level. Chris Lucketti,
frequently touted as a target, joins Huddersfield for £1,000,000.
9/6 We can expect to sign Mitchell Thomas soon, possibly in a player-coach capacity.
Luton’s Lennie Lawrence says, "Mitchell has had a very good offer from Burnley
and he's ready to go. I have spoken to their manager and he's keen to sign Mitchell.
There's nothing I can do about it. I wanted Mitchell to stay but there's no way I can
match Burnley's offer."
10/6 Burnley announce that Commercial Manager Peter Davis has left the club.
11/6 Mark Williams, never a realistic target, joins Sheffield Utd, who are flirting
dangerously with the recently sacked Bobby Gould as a potential manager.
14/6 Ternent admits defeat in our attempt to sign Gerrard, saying "I made a bid
but it was far removed from what they wanted and that's out of the window. Unfortunately
the financial implications of things are beyond us at the moment. Paul Gerrard would have
been a good signing. I want competition all over the field and Gerrard is a goalkeeper
I've been interested in for a long time. It would have been good competition and that's
what I'm looking for. It could only have been beneficial for Burnley. He's the right age
and he would have gone on to be worth more than I was prepared to give." He also
hints that his wages might have been a problem. However, he adds, "I've got Paul
Crichton and I will only go for what I want." At their AGM, the League announce that
goal difference will once again replace goals scored, that five substitutes can be chosen
with up to three taking the field and, regrettably, squad numbering and shirt names will
apply for next season. Going off, number 49, coming on, number 57...
15/6 Mark Robertson, now on honeymoon in the Fiji Islands, is said to be prepared to
sign a new contract. Adrian Heath is restored as favourite to take on Sheffield Utd after
fans protest at the prospect of Bobby Gould. Chris Lightfoot, who us and Preston were
supposed to be after, signs a new deal at Crewe. John Ward signs a new contract as
Assistant Manager of Wolves.
16/6 It’s an annual summer event. Our phsyio leaves. Paul Lake quits for
unspecified "personal reasons." The club stress that there is nothing to be read
into this, just private circumstances. Nick Worth left last summer, and the year before
that, Andy Jones. The days of Jimmy Holland seem a long time ago. Adrian Heath is finally
appointed manager of Sheffield Utd. We wish him well.
17/6 Barry Kilby agrees to attend the London Clarets AGM on July 10th. One of the
former ticket office staff, Simon Clarke, is scheduled to appear before Burnley
Magistrates Court on charges of false accounting and stealing from his employers. The club
announce the launch of a new 'Legends Club', offering deluxe hospitality for £1,000 a
season. Mullin is now linked with Adrian Heath’s Sheffield Utd. As John Barnes is
unexpectedly parachuted into Celtic, managerial failure waddle sees fit to comment that he
should do well because he is starting out at a reasonable level. waddle blames his failure
on the Board and the gap in quality between the premier league and the second division,
adding, "I remember personally that I experienced a lot of frustration at Burnley
having played at a good level, and as a manager I found myself looking at certain
situations as if still a player, seeing passes that weren't being made." He adds that
he’s in no rush to go back into management. Why is anyone still interested in his
opinions? Why don’t they ask Michael Williams, Steve Blatherwick, Lee Howey and Mark
Ford?
18/6 There’s a big shake-up on the commercial side of the club. Peter Davis is
replaced by Marketing Manager Richard Collier, who was previously in charge of the Turf
Moor leisure centre. Sales Manager Rita Walsh comes to the club from the Comfort Friendly
Hotel (previously Kierby Hotel), while Michael Dooley will be Ticket Office and
Administration Manager, Jason Whittaker Lottery Manager, Sue Geoghan Lottery Customer
Services Manager and Caroline Fowler Retail Manager. Dean Ramsdale is appointed as head of
the Football in the Community Scheme and Manager of the leisure centre. This represents a
big expansion in the commercial infrastructure of the club, with the aim of promoting and
marketing the club throughout the year, not just the football season. Collier is charged
with responsibility for corporate facilities, sponsorship, the leisure centre and the Cafe
Claret, with a view to raising funds through business use and sponsorship. Fowler will run
the club shops and the new ‘Clarets Collection’ brand, under which the club will
market its own clothing. A new Clarets brand logo, based on a 1930’s design, will be
used on everything. The man behind the changes, Andrew Watson, says the club needs to do
more to sell its hospitality boxes: "We have got to sell out our current boxes in the
North Stand and then look to develop the East Stand. We've got to get there." At the
moment, the boxes have only been working at around one third capacity, and the club will
not spend the £500,000 needed to put them in the Jimmy McIlroy Bee Hole Lane End Stand
until the ones in the Harry Potts Longside Stand are better used. To try and improve take
up, the club launch a new corporate brochure and hold a sponsors evening and business open
day. It’s hoped that 150 local businesses will turn up. It’s hoped that these
changes will enable us to emulate the success of Bradford and Watford. Ternent says,
"They are both perfect examples of what can be achieved. Both of them have done a
magnificent job over the years." Andrew Watson adds, " I think potentially we
can be a bigger club than Bradford or Watford." The club are linked with three
Sheffield Wednesday players: Earl Barrett, Lee Briscoe and Ritchie Humphries. While all
three are available for transfer, Briscoe and Barrett are said to be more likely to join
Man City, another one of those clubs who seem to be competing for the same players as us.
The move for Gerrard being dead, we are now said to be interested in Tony Warner, recently
released as third choice Liverpool keeper. Meanwhile, Adrian Heath might be after Pauls
Smith and Weller. As Sheffield Utd have no cash and both players have yet to prove their
fitness, this doesn’t ring true. We arrange to play bloody Rochdale (who have a new
manager who isn’t Ronnie Jepson) on Tuesday 27th July
21/6 John Rudge (‘Mr Port Vale’), as part of his application for the Stoke
job, attempts to prove his talent-spotting prowess by compiling a list of the six best
prospects in the Nationwide League. It includes one Glen Little, who Vale tried to prise
away from us last season. The club deny any interest in the three Sheffield Wednesday
players. The Lollipop Man, Neil Moore, says he hopes the fact that he captained Burnley
will open a few doors as he looks for a new full time job. No, that was under waddle,
doesn’t count. Moore, recently chosen as the worst Oldham player ever, says, "I
did okay against Millwall and Lincoln but after that I didn't think I played well. Maybe
you can't judge someone on six or seven games but on that basis I probably didn't deserve
a contract." Bobby Seith is said to be in with a chance of receiving the Championship
medal he was denied in 1960. Seith played a major part in our triumph, playing in 27 of
the 42 games, but fell out with Bob Lord and was transferred to Dundee at the
season’s end without being given a medal. Ian Ross, a ‘football historian’
(sounds like a nice job) has researched it and says he believes Seith is the only player
in history not to be given a championship medal when he was entitled to one. He says,
"It is a private matter between Burnley FC and Mr Seith as to why he was transferred
but it seems extremely petty to deny this man his well-earned medal." Kilby, keen to
earn further Brownie Points, responds, "We will have a look into it and see what we
can do. I go back a long way and although I don't remember him playing I certainly
remember the name." The PFA have taken up his case and have been in touch with the
club, while the Football League have said that they "await with interest any
correspondence from Burnley or the PFA and we would like to think we would view it
sympathetically." In journalism, I think they call this the ‘silly season’.
Bobby Seith is 67.
22/6 Ray Ingleby’s company Caribiner might be in trouble. American lawyers have
filed a law suit accusing them of misleading investors. Ingleby is now the non-executive
Vice-Chairman of Caribiner. The Board discuss the matter, but Kilby says Ingleby is not
involved and there’s no reason why this should affect his role with Burnley His view
is: "It seems these things go out like confetti over there. It's his own affair and I
can't see any fall-out for Burnley." Millwall and Adrian Heath’s Sheffield Utd
are said to be linked with our three Su’lan’ targets Mullin, Scott and Smith.
Heath, of course, knows them well. To make it yet more incestuous, sacked former Burnley
Secretary John Howarth joins AH’s Sheffield Utd. Neil Moore looks set to join
Chester. Haven’t they suffered enough?
23/6 The club hold a press conference to reveal that the Bee Hole Land End Stand (or
‘East Stand’) has been officially renamed the Jimmy McIlroy Stand. McIlroy is
clearly delighted at the honour, saying, "I almost feel as if I have been re-signed
by the club. I now feel part of the club which I haven't done for thirty-odd years.
Somehow I feel I am now back with my club. This morning I'm very much part of the club and
I want it to be successful. I can't think of any greater way this club can show its
recognition. I think I am joining a short list of players who have had stands named after
them. It's a very exclusive club I belong to. It's not really sunk in yet. The saddest day
of my football career was the day I was told I was surplus to requirements here at Turf
Moor. Looking back I feel my footballing life practically finished the day I left here,
even though I joined a good club with a good staff and players at Stoke City."
Talking of his mysterious departure, he adds, "The differences were not with Burnley
Football Club, they were with the chairman at the time, Mr Bob Lord. I think it was his
decision that I should leave Burnley." McIlroy says his only regret is that his
father Harry, who recently died, isn’t around: "It would have been a special day
for him." A nameplate will shortly be added to the stand. The club also give McIlroy
two season tickets. Kilby says we will be doing more of this kind of thing, adding,
"Jimmy is a living legend. It is almost fifty years since he joined the club and we
pushed aside commercialism for part of Burnley's tradition and history. I must have had at
least a letter per week asking for us to honour Jimmy in this way. The players will see
the stand as they run out, and we hope that will inspire them. We want to continue to mark
our glorious past in several different ways this season, by naming lounges after players
and developing a Hall of Fame and hopefully a museum." Speculation has it that the
Longside will be renamed in honour of Sir Harry Potts when the current sponsorship deal
expires. Supporters clubs applaud the move, which has long been advocated by the London
Clarets. More mundanely, we are handed one of the toughest ties in the League Cup First
Round with a two leg tie against Manchester City. We play at Maine Road in the week
beginning 9th August, and at Turf Moor two weeks later. We announce lower than league
prices for our home friendlies. Perhaps the most shocking news of the day is that the new
away shirts, as chosen by the fans, go on sale, meaning that for the first time ever both
new home and away shirts are on sale before the Burnley holidays.
24/6 The season’s getting closer as the fixtures come out. And they’re
rubbish. We start with a ritual defeat at Wycombe on 7th August, and our first home league
match comes a week later against ‘1-0’ Chesterfield. Boxing Day sees us away at
Bury, while our first game of the new millennium - or not, depending on whether
you’re a pedantic mathematician - is at Notts County. The season finishes in
Scunthorpe, which at least means that if they want to kick off at 11.00 this time
they’ll have to bring the whole league programme forward. Meanwhile, the latest set
of new applicants receive their share certificates, taking the total raised by the rights
issue to over £4,000,000. Kilby quips, "People have been nicely putting in their
£200 and £400. I think we'll have to hold the AGM on the pitch!" Although rumours
have been floating of a new backer prepared to invest substantial money, Kilby says there
are no major investors in the pipeline, and the emphasis now is on raising money through
commercial activities. It’s rumoured that Crewe might be interested in Andy Cooke.
They have some money at the moment.
25/6 In the face of some supporter disquiet at our lack of new signings, Kilby says we
are working hard to bring in new players. He comments, "There's a lot of activity
going on behind the scenes to strengthen the team, although we did spend a lot of money
last season. There is some slack in the budget for new players and a reserve fund."
He adds that the Bosman ruling has changed the market. With most players’ contracts
expiring at the end of June, few are reluctant to commit themselves before then. We can
expect to see more activity around the beginning of July. On the suggestion of Man City,
our friendly against them is cancelled, since we will be playing them in the League Cup.
Ternent will now try to line up another game, although it’s likely that all the most
attractive opposition has been snapped up. Gary Megson is sacked by Stockport, apparently
for wanting to leave (?). Current Centre of Excellence manager and former Clarets youth
player Andy Kilner is put in temporary charge. This is apparently either good or bad news
for the summer’s most boring story, the Paul Cook transfer.
26/6 The club announce that Turf Moor admission prices will be lowered by £2 for the
League Cup game against Man City. Over the last few years, League Cup matches, not being
covered by season tickets, have been relatively poorly attended at Turf Moor. What are we
saying about our hopes for the first leg?
28/6 Andy Kilner is surprisingly given the Stockport job full time. Mike Phelan, who
turned down the chance to re-join the Clarets for the sake of money in 1994, had also been
suggested. The Paul Cook transfer is apparently back on. Like we care.
29/6 Port Vale and Stoke are both said to have been after Andy Cooke, but Port Vale
cannot buy unless they sell first, and buying Carl Griffiths for £325,000 before transfer
deadline day seems to have stretched them, while Stoke are both leaderless and stony
broke. Crewe, if anyone, look more likely. £800,000 is a possible fee, although it's
thought that we don't need to sell. We could sign Cook on a free this week. Peter Hampton,
Burnley left back from 1984 to 1987, and player in the Orient game, is reported to have
turned down the chance to become out physio. Hampton was appointed "Director of
Coaching" at Workington last year, whereupon they stormed the North West Trains
League Championship with fourteen straight wins. Hampton was previously physio at (of
course) Bury. Our home game against Scunthorpe is moved to Sunday October 10th,
to be shown on Sky. Why?
30/6 Su'lan' striker Daniele Dichio is said to be about to sign for the club. Colin
Carr-Lawton goes on trial at Leyton Orient. Berwick are also said to be interested.
Carr-Lawton reveals that his international clearance after the Ethinikos farce only came
last week. Martin Smith ends up joining Bradford on a free transfer, signing a three year
contract.
