1/3 Peter Swan is released by the
club, in time to find a new club before transfer deadline day, and immediately goes on
trial with York. Swan had been on a month to month contract. He says he may have pushed
himself to get back too soon last year in the hope of winning a new contract, and that it
was good of the club to stick with him while he came back from injury. He adds, "It
was a dream come true coming back. I have been with the gaffer three times and I knew it
was only a matter of time before he turned things round." Colchester refuse to
apologise to Ian Wright for the abuse given to him and his wife during the game.
Colchester spokesman Brian Wheeler says Wright will have to get used to it, and comments,
"He's a superstar and he can expect a lot worse when he goes elsewhere with
Burnley," adding, "the facts are that the chants were offensive but they were
not racist." The implication would seem to be that offensive chants are acceptable,
and chants about Brian Wheeler's wife ought, therefore, to be tolerated should we visit
again. Wright says, "I have taken a lot of stick in my time, which I can handle. But
it's not on when fans aim it at my family. I want an apology from the fans." Ternent
doesn't win Manager of the Month. It goes to Tony Fawthorp, said to be the Bristol City
Manager.
3/3 Gordon Armstrong is reported to be not fit to play
against Preston. Ternent is said to be trying to organise some of his 'behind closed
doors' friendlies to give Ged Harrison more of a run-out without having to sign him on
loan. Alan Lee is given the all-clear to return to playing, weeks ahead of schedule, and
will now work with the physio to build-up some muscle on his injured knee. Colchester
attempt to pour oil on troubled waters by sending Mrs Wright a bouquet of flowers. Before
the big game, Kilby says we have now proved it’s not beyond possibility to fill Turf
Moor.
4/3 Oh dear. Burnley 0 Preston 3. Scorers:
Jackson (2), Macken (72), Edwards (77). Team: Crichton, West, Branch, Davis, Cox,
Johnrose, Cook (Mellon 65), Mullin (Smith 65), Little, Cooke (Brass 46), Wright. Subs
not used: Jepson and Robertson. Att: 22,310. See our match
report for details. Despite this we maintain our usual 5th position.
Burnley switch to a back four in the absence of Thomas, West is sent off and we are
comprehensively outplayed in front of the highest crowd at an all-seater Turf Moor. In
fact, the attendance is the highest for a league match at Turf Moor since a Boxing Day
clash with Blackburn Rovers in 1978, and makes us once again the best-supported team in
the division, above Preston. Cooke and Cox both pick up minor calf injuries. Eyres comes
on as a sub for Preston. Ternent says he believes the result flatters Preston, and we will
come back strongly against Luton. In the morning, Alistair Campbell is interviewed on
Radio Five, with the R5 presenter managing to give a mention to the London Clarets!
5/3 Ready for the latest mad weekend rumour? Here goes:
Paul Ince to sign, for £750,000. Honest.
6/3 It transpires that Ince was at Saturday's game, but
in the players' lounge, as a guest of his big mate, Ian Wright. More tickets are reported
to be available for the Blackpool away game. Blackpool said they'd only give us extra
tickets if their own fans didn't buy them. They didn't.
7/3 Burnley 0 Luton 2. Scorers: White (26), Gray
(55). Team: Crichton, Branch (Smith 46), Little, Thomas, Davis, Cox, Mullin (Mellon 46),
Johnrose, Cook (Payton 56), Cooke and Wright. Subs not used: Jepson and West. Att: 12,080.
See our match report for details. And we still stay 5th.
After heavy rain, the game passes an afternoon pitch inspection. Payton, on return from
suspension, starts the game on the bench. Branch plays, despite a death in the family.
Ternent admits the last few days have been disappointing, but is confident we’ll
bounce back. Luton have now won three times in four games at Turf Moor under Lennie
Lawrence, who says, "This place somehow seems to bring the best out of us." He
adds that Burnley are "certainties for the play-offs." Michael Thomas is
rumoured to be joining the club from Benfica. It's claimed there'll be a press conference
tomorrow. Ian Wright's transfer is now said to have paid for itself. Robbie Fowler is
Wright’s star guest of the evening, but rumours would be so far-fetched that people
don’t start them. Tom Cowan misses Cambridge’s game vs Bristol City with an
ankle injury.
8/3 The home reserves match against Lincoln is again
called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
9/3 Farsley Celtic goalkeeper Liam Sutcliffe is linked
with the club. Sutcliffe is 6’5" and 20 years old and is currently on trial at
Bradford. West Ham are also said to be interested, and Ternent denies speculation as
usual.
11/3 Wrexham 0 Burnley 1. Scorer: Payton (6).
Team: Crichton, Thomas, Davis, Cox, Little (West 84), Smith, Cook (Jepson 72), Mellon,
Johnrose, Cooke (Wright 74), Payton. Subs not used: Armstrong and Mullin. Att: 6,582. See our match report for details. This leaves us in, yes, 5th
position. Payton's goal is the 200th career goal. He celebrates by ripping off his shirt
to unveil a vest with ‘200 hundred goals’ and ‘Natural Born Claret’
written on it. The news of the day is that Wright is dropped. Ternent says he thought he
needed a "little break." Of Payton, he comments, "It's a fantastic
achievement any way you look at it and he's a long way from finished yet." It’s
suggested that a new contract is not far off.
12/3 The Michael Thomas rumour makes the Sunday
tabloids. Still no press conference though.
13/3 Mark Robertson joins Wollongong Wolves on loan for
the rest of the season. Based near Sydney, they are currently second in the Australian
NSL.
14/3 Gillingham 2 Burnley 2. Scorers: Payton
(31), Wright (86) / Butters (4), Asaba (68). Team: Crichton, Cox, Davis, Thomas, Little,
Branch, Mellon (Mullin 80) Johnrose, Cook (Wright 70), Cooke (Jepson 76), Payton. Subs not
used: West and Armstrong. Att: 7,347. See our match report for
details. We stay - have a guess - 5th in the table. A very good day for
Burnley, as Payton scores his 50th Burnley goal and Wright his first to secure
a good result on a bogy ground, and Graeme Souness is appointed manager of Blackburn on a
three and a half year contract. Ternent says, "I'm pleased with the point.
Premiership sides have come here and lost. We didn't." Of Wright, Ternent comments,
"He's a natural goalscorer and they never lose that, as you saw." Gillingham
manager Peter Taylor says Wright told him before the match that he’s not as fit as
he’d like to be, and adds he expects both sides to finish in the top six. Paul Smith
misses the game with a groin injury. Peter Swan signs for York for the rest of the season.
15/3 The reserves match at Huddersfield is postponed.
Do they ever actually play?
16/3 Ternent hints that he may be prepared to drop
Wright again, saying, "I'm paid to make tough decisions. That's what managers
do."
17/3 Tom Cowan will return to Burnley at the end of his
month’s loan. It’s thought that Cambridge were keen to take him for a second
month but we want him in the squad for the run up. Melbourne Knights, recent beneficiaries
of a Peter Beardsley loan spell, say they're keen to sign John Barnes and one Ian Wright.
Hang on, hasn't he already got a job? Kurt Nogan is said to be set to sign for Cardiff.
Aren’t we playing them soon?
18/3 Burnley 3 Reading 0. Scorers: Davis (37),
Payton (52), Wright (84). Team: Crichton, Cox, Thomas, Davis, Branch, Little, Mellon
(Mullin 70), Cook, Johnrose, Payton (Wright 60), Cooke (Lee 78). Subs not used: Jepson and
Armstrong. Att: 14,436. See our match report for details. This
result keeps us 5th. The surprise news is that Lee returns way ahead of
schedule. Peter Swan gets sent off on his debut for York, as does Blatherwick at
Chesterfield, while Neil Moore scores for Macclesfield. A header? Moore is considering a
new contract offer, although non-league Telford are also said to be interested in securing
the services of the Lollipop Man.
20/3 Ian Wright is handed a two match ban at the
Scottish FA hearing. He will miss Bury at home and Cardiff away. General consensus seems
to be that it could have been a lot worse, although it is in line with precedents set by
earlier cases. This doesn't stop Radio 5 journalist and Rangers fan Roddy Forsyth
launching a personal attack on Wright, in which he argues that Wright should have been
singled out for harsh treatment on account of his fame. He then reveals the depths of his
ignorance by calling the Burnley manager 'Dave Ternent'. 'Dave' comments, "I think
it's a harsh decision for Burnley football club when it was nothing to do with this club.
It's harsh on the supporters and everyone connected with the club. If they wanted to
punish the player they should have fined him." Barry Kilby seems relieved,
commenting, "It could have been worse. I think if he was going to get a ban two
matches is the best we could have expected. We will take our medicine and get over it as
quickly as possible. If they had offered us that we would have taken that result at the
start of the day." Wright himself says, "The thing that hurts most is the
punishment imposed on me will have a knock-on effect on my new club Burnley." A
further meeting on April 18th will consider his subsequent comments in the Sun.
A fine is likely to result then. Ex-loan waster Steve Guinan is sacked by Cambridge for
unacceptable conduct at a club dinner. He has earlier been kicked out of Forest and
Scunthorpe.
21/3 Blackpool 1 Burnley 1. Scorers: Branch (72)
/ Gill (48). Team: Crichton, Davis, Thomas, Cox, Little, Mellon (Mullin 56), Johnrose,
Cook, Branch, Cooke (Wright 63), Payton. Subs not used: Armstrong, Lee, Jepson. Att:
8,029. See our match report for details. We stay 5th.
Ternent comments, "I thought we should have kicked off at nine o'clock because for
the last half-hour we played okay." He adds that he thinks we need to be "more
creative". After Sheffield Wednesday sack Danny Wilson, chris waddle emerges as a
front-runner in a fan's poll. Those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are
condemned to repeat them.
22/3 Burnley Reserves 1 Lincoln Reserves 0. Yes,
the game is finally played, and the result means we go through to play Oldham in the next
round of the thrilling Pontins League Cup. The scorer is Shandran and the team is: Mawson,
Leeson, Devenney, Scott, Williamson, Heywood (Pilkington), Maylett, Bowden, Shandran,
Kelly, Clark (Fogarty). Subs not used: Waine, Paxton, Davis. Heywood is taken off injured.
We are linked with Bournemouth midfielder Steve Robinson in a possible £500,000 bid, as
are Preston. Robinson is 25 and has played for Northern Ireland and, previously, Spurs.
However, Ternent says that the players he wants aren't available and he is happy with his
squad
23/3 Transfer deadline day is unreasonably quiet. Our
only move is to sign Gerry Harrison, already at the club, on loan for the rest of the
season. The big news of the day however is that Andy Payton agrees a new three year
contract, which should see him end his career at Burnley. It later emerges that a loan
move for Bury's Nicky Daws came a cropper over personal terms. There are also claims that
Michael Thomas would not sign because the FA advised him this might weaken his case
against Benfica for non-payment of wages. Kurt Nogan completes his £100,000 move to
Cardiff, with Cardiff supporters apparently putting their hands in their pockets to help
raise the cash. Most astute signing of the day seems to be Wigan's capture of Neil
Redfean. The only other vaguely Burnley related news is that Guinan joins Plymouth. For a
while.
24/3 The club announce an offer whereby anyone who buys
a Burnley shirt in the next couple of weeks will receive a free ticket for the match
against Notts County. Season ticket holders who do so will instead be offered a ball, with
a retail price of £9.99. Inspired marketing or a move bound to annoy both loyal shirt
buyers and season ticket holders? Whichever, don't count on your shirt being good for next
season. It's also announced that the official Burnley website is being redeveloped in
partnership with a new company, to be relaunched on Easter Saturday. Gerry Harrison
rejoins the first team squad. The club unveil a third kid a quid day, which will be in
operation for the home game against Gillingham.
25/3 Burnley 2 Bury 2. Scorers: Payton (50),
Jepson (90) / Swailes (77), Daws (88). Team: Crichton, Thomas, Davis, Cox, Branch, Little,
Johnrose, Cook (Jepson 67), Mullin, Cooke (Mellon 76), Payton. Subs not used: Armstrong,
Smith, West. Att: 13.297. See our match report for details.
Still 5th in the table. Alan Lee does not make the bench due to a minor knee
injury. Ternent admits it was a "mediocre performance", and then can't help
reminiscing about the players he fell out with last year, saying, "We never do jack
it in, only that mob I cleared off when I came here last season. The ones I've got now
don't jack it in, no chance." Jepson, as ever, refuses to take any glory, commenting,
"I don't give a monkey's about the goal. It doesn't matter who gets the goals. Really
the goal belongs to the team and not individuals." Meanwhile, the Burnley programme
says that the forthcoming Oxford game is both pay on the day and all-ticket - on the same
page! Burnley Youth 1 Stockport 1. Paul Barrett scores.
27/3 Oldham Reserves 4 Burnley Reserves 2. They
go four up before Andrew Leeson and Anthony Shandran score consolation goals. Our brave
boys are now eliminated from the Pontins league cup. Team: Mawson, Leeson, Devenney,
Scott, Williamson (Pilkington), Heywood, Maylett (Davies), Harrison, Shandran, Clark,
Kelly (Bowden). Subs not used: Paxton and Waine.
28/3 New ticket prices for 2000-2001 are unveiled.
Although the club's press release states that the new season ticket prices are being held
at current levels, this claim quickly turns out to be untrue. The new discounted price of
a Harry Potts Longside upper tier ticket, for example, is £295, the same as the non
discounted price last season, but £30 more than the discounted price last season. The
only way someone can pay at the same price is if they bought a ticket after the discount
period last season and buy one during the discount period this season. People who took
advantage of the discount last season face a price rise now, pure and simple. The highest
percentage price increase will be faced by these very people, arguably the club's most
loyal supporters. A greater controversy is that the discount period has been dramatically
reduced. From mid June last year, it now ends in April. In other words, people are asked
to buy season tickets before the current season has ended, and before they know what level
of football they will be paying for. Pay on the day prices go up by another £1 across the
board, except for the Bob Lord Stand, which will cost an extra £2. The club warn these
may rise again if we are promoted. There are better bits of the package, such as a £35
child season ticket anywhere in the ground, albeit only when accompanied by an adult
season ticket holder, and concessionary rates being extended to 16-18 year olds and
students, but for trying to pull the wool over our eyes and not comparing like with like,
it's a regrettable hats on for Andrew Watson. He defends the curtailment of the discount
period, saying "Paying in April directly helps your team. The earlier the money comes
in, the more certain the budget can be set for football and, therefore, the more certain
the manager can be in his plans." He makes the point that people can still buy
tickets after the discount period at not much more cost, and that the club's payment plan
facilities have now been extended so that the cost can be spread over eight rather than
six months. A CISA meeting with Danny Reuben
that night indicates quite a lot of strong feeling about the reduction in the discount
period, the mis-presentation of the price rises and the apparent lapse of the consultation
meetings between board and the supporters groups – remember them? It also emerges
from this that the official naming of the Harry Potts Stand may not be far off. Meanwhile,
Stoke draw and Gillingham lose again - good results for us.
29/3 Burnley Reserves 3 Oldham Reserves 1. A
measure of revenge, with goals by Andy Leeson, Paul Barrett and Michael Devveney. Our
winner comes with Oldham down to ten men after an injury, having used all three subs. Tony
Philliskirk is apparently their coach. This is Paul Barrett's first game for the reserves,
the 16 year-old still being a student at Ivy Bank school. Team: Mawson (Paxton), Leeson,
Devenney, Scott, Heywood, Davis, Bowden, Clark (O'Neill) (Barrett), Shandran, Kelly,
Pilkington. Subs not used: Waine, Fogarty. Surprising news is that Burnley FC and Burnley
Cricket Club confirm they have been in talks with a view to moving the cricket club away
from Turf Moor and onto state of the art facilities elsewhere, the two aims being to make
it the top club in the Lancashire League and to allow Burnley FC to develop the existing
site into a new Cricket Field Stand, possibly accompanied by leisure developments such as
a hotel and a casino.
30/3 Andrew Watson confirms that at least one shirt
will be replaced for next season, with the chances are that it will be the away shirt.
Apparently the team consider them 'unlucky'. The 'at least' suggests it could still be
both?
31/3 Shaun Carey, Norwich midfielder and Northern
Ireland B international, is linked with Burnley. He will be out of contract in the summer,
is 23 years old and is currently out of the team. We may also go back for Nicky Daws.
