1/3 Barry Kilby says of Ternent, "We are absolutely 100
per cent behind him. We had a chat and we know where we want to go. We were disappointed
on Saturday as everyone was, and nobody more than Stan. It's just a matter of dusting
ourselves down and getting on with it. Of course it would be a massive blow if we went
down but at the moment we are not contemplating that." He stresses that this does not
constitute a 'vote of confidence'. Clear the air talks are held between management and the
squad. Ternent insists he has no intention of leaving the club. He says, "this club
has a cancer and I‘m going to cut it out." Andy Cooke has an emergency operation
to remove his appendix and will be out for a month.
2/3 Ternent says that the mood in training has been positive.
It looks like Mark Robertson will need a hernia operation. The club had hoped to delay it
until the summer. Paul Smith is stepping up training after knee operations. Clive Holt
completes the purchase of 635 shares worth £127,000. Cathy Pickup is appointed club
Secretary. She had been covering the duties since John Howarth's departure. Her father
Albert Maddox put in fifty years as assistant and company secretary.
3/3 Robertson is discussing the offer of a new contract.
Jepson may be asked to fill in for Cooke, with Swan and Henderson injured and Carr-Lawton
and Eastwood on loan in Greece. The reserves match versus Man City is called off due to
rain.
4/3 Robertson is forced to have his operation. Brian Reid
begins talks over a new contract. Other players out of contract in the summer are Ford,
Henderson, Jepson, Kval, Morgan, Pickering, Swan and Vindheim. Luton town manager Lennie
Lawrence is allegedly told not to sign Gerry Harrison, as the club cannot afford him.
5/3 Mark Winstanley turns down the chance to join Rotherham
on loan. It's believed he wants to join a club in the North West. Ford is due to return to
the squad for Wigan tomorrow, with Johnrose, Pickering and Brass all suspended. Gordon
Armstrong comments "After something like that, as embarrassing as it was, you've got
to try and keep hold of a little bit and use it to try and inspire the lads to do better
because we can't have that again… we will end up in the relegation zone if we keep
playing like we did on Saturday." Ternent says the problem with the club in the last
few years has been a lack of continuity. He adds that he expects a show of pride after
Gillingham, and says, "Anything tomorrow has got to be better than last week."
6/3 Except this, perhaps. The match is called off at 11
o'clock due to a waterlogged pitch. A late fall of snow seals the fate of the game. Brass
and Pickering will now be suspended against Man City. Everyone else plays their game in
hand and although results go well for us, our true position is revealed: one point off the
relegation zone.
8/3 Port Vale deny rumours that they have bid £450,000 for
Payton. Brian Horton says he has made no contact with the club, while Ternent reputedly
comments he'd have to be mad to sell him. The match at Wrexham is made all ticket, with
seats and terrace tickets available. Presumably this is to avoid a repeat of the chaotic
scenes of last year. Vinnie Jones retires from football.
9/3 Could it get any worse? Burnley 0 Man City 6.
Horlock (17), Morrison (41), Goater (50, 59, 65), Allsopp (82). Team: Crichton, Moore
(Maylett 44), Morgan, Ford, Davis, Reid, Little, Mellon, Payton, Armstrong, Branch. SNU:
Williamson, Vindheim. Att: 17,251. See match report for details.
Apparently it could have been more. People describe it as the worst Burnley game they have
ever seen. Before the game, the club had denied rumours of unrest between Ternent and the
players, including stories that the dressing room was divided between Ternent's signings
and those at the club from last season. Steve Davis says, "The team spirit is superb
and when you hear these things it only makes the spirit stronger." Ternent comments,
"They are a cracking set of lads contrary to what people write about bawling and
shouting and this, that and the other. It's a bit of tittle-tattle here and bit there.
It's a load of nonsense really. I think the players are well aware of their
responsibilities… I am well aware of mine because as manager I take responsibility
for the team performance. That goes with the territory." Ternent goes on to hope that
the team will impress the crowd with a good performance and a win, and says the players
need to get Gillingham out of their system. Speaking about this and the following game
against Preston, he says, "It will be a real good test for us and we'll know exactly
where we are up to and that will be the standard we have to achieve if we are going to be
successful." Oh dear. After the match, he refuses to make any statement except to say
he will be talking to the chairman, and speculation mounts that he will resign the next
day. Adrian Heath, John Ward and even Steve Davis are widely touted as replacements. Glen
Little comments, "I honestly don't know what anyone thinks. The manager's a
passionate person, loves Burnley, lives in the town, wants to do well and after seeing the
last couple of weeks whether he thinks he's hurt by it. But I know he must be devastated
like everybody is." He adds, "If we keep going like that we are down… If I
wasn't a Burnley player, if I was playing for someone like Manchester City, you'd be
thinking Burnley were down." He adds that he believes the club has a harder fight on
its hands than last season. Mark Ford admits to being "embarrassed" and says
perhaps they should cut admission prices to generate support for Sunday's crucial game.
Shaun Goater, meanwhile, rejoices in the fact that, after a long period without scoring,
he has ended his goal drought against us. Neil Moore is stretchered off with a knee
injury. Ironically, in view of the numbers missing by the end, the match kicks off fifteen
minutes late due to crowd congestion. The club give City even more to cheer about by
playing Oasis at half time.
10/3 After a meeting with Barry Kilby for a "full and
frank discussion", Ternent does not resign. Kilby cancels a trip to London for the
lunchtime meeting, but despite what appears to be a majority of the support now against
him, Ternent stands defiant. He says, "Under no circumstances am I going to
resign." He adds, "I have never packed anything in in my life and I don't intend
to start now. I came here to do a job. I have been here for eight months football-wise and
I intend to be here for three years or longer if possible. I'll do whatever it takes. The
people can keep shouting and bawling until they're blue in the face as far as I'm
concerned but I'm mentally and physically tougher than that. I came to a do a job and I
will do it my way." He says that he never had any intention of resigning, but felt he
owed it to the chairman to have a chat and explain his views. Ternent also says, "You
don't become a bad manager overnight… I will turn Burnley around. They frightened
Adrian Heath and chris waddle away but I come from sterner stuff and I am longer in the
tooth. I intend to see the job through. There has been a culmination of things and I am
just getting into the job now… A lot of things have conspired against us but I accept
full responsibility and I won't duck a challenge." He goes on, "I would rather
they didn't do it at all but if the supporters want to vent their anger then they should
have a go at me." He makes clear that he is not hanging on because he will want a pay
off, but because he thinks he can still do the job. Meanwhile, Gordon Armstrong publicly
supports Ternent, saying, "He has the full support of everybody in the dressing room.
There's no doubt about that." Mark Ford blames the pressure of playing for a big club
with high expectations for some of the poor performances. Loan signings look on the cards,
ahead of yet another summer rebuilding. Neil Moore will need a knee operation.
11/3 The board meet in London, including Ingleby, and give
Ternent their full backing. Kilby comments, "Stan is still the manager and we have
asked him to prepare the team for Sunday. We have got to keep cool heads and keep our
nerve in a difficult situation. We don't want to panic and we know what options are open
to us. We want the fans and everybody to get behind the team. It's an eleven week season
now. We have got to get out of relegation trouble." It's thought that only another
heavy defeat will see them change their minds. Ternent says it's all down to the players,
saying, "It's in the players' hands. If they want Stan Ternent as manager they will
go out and perform, if they don't they won't. But I think they do." He adds, "I
can understand the fans' frustrations, but we have struggled with injuries, suspensions
and loss of form. The crowd have been on the players' backs, and hopefully they will get
behind us on Sunday. They haven't had a lot to shout about, but changing the manager won't
change the players. Talk of me losing my job is part of the tittle-tattle in society
today… I believe we will get it right sooner rather than later." The match at
Wigan is rearranged for Tuesday 4th May at 7.45. The game remains all ticket
and original tickets are still valid. Phil Eastwood returns from his loan spell at
Kettering. Nick Daws, with whom we had been linked, says he wants to stay in the first
division. The home game against Macclesfield is made a kid-a-quid match.
12/3 We sign Paul Cook from Stockport and Tom Cowan from
Huddersfield, both on a month's loan. Cook is a midfielder, Cowan a left back. Cowan has
recently recovered from injury but can't get back in Huddersfield's team, while 31 year
old Cook has played in the premier league with - of course - Coventry. Cowan is 29 years
old and was player of the year last season at Huddersfield, where he was apparently well
liked by the supporters. It's rumoured that Morgan has fallen out with Ternent after being
replaced, and that Reid is set to leave the club on a free transfer in the summer after a
dispute over the payment of his signing on fee. Ternent criticises Heath and waddle for
walking out on the club before they had finished the job and says he will not do that.
13/3 Results elsewhere go against us and leave us fourth from
bottom, in the relegation zone for the first time. Of tomorrow, Ternent says, "I
think we owe ourselves and certainly the fans a good show by playing to our capabilities.
If the fans get behind them I'm sure they'll be okay." It's rumoured that we have
again tried to trade Payton plus cash for Cresswell, but Payton didn't want to leave.
14/3 Burnley 0 Preston 1. Nogan, of course (61). Team:
Crichton, Pickering, Cowan, Mellon, Davis, Brass, Little, Armstrong (Eastwood 73), Cook,
Payton, Branch. SNU: Williamson, Ford. Att: 11,561, with around 4,000 Preston fans. See match report for details. The performance is greatly improved,
the defence much more solid, but we cannot finish. Gordon Armstrong reacts angrily to
being subbed. We remain fourth from bottom, two points off next team Lincoln, having
played a game more, with eleven games to go. Cook and Cowan take us to forty players this
season. Half time is marked by a parade of afghan hounds.
15/3 Tom Cowan says he might be interested in joining us
permanently, if we stop up. Huddersfield will allow him to leave on a free. He comments,
"Obviously if I do well for Burnley and help them stay up then the chance might be
there for me to sign for them. If that doesn't happen with Burnley then it gives the
opportunity for people to come and watch me and I am playing first-team football again,
which I thank Burnley for. There's always that mystique about Burnley about it being a big
club and it would be a great move. But it wouldn't be a great move if you were in the
Third Division." Of Saturday’s game, Ternent says we were unlucky to lose and we
will not go down. He adds, "The supporters expect that sort of endeavour and
commitment and so do I. So yesterday was a vast improvement on the last two games and I'm
sure if we keep believing and battling away like that then things will change for
us." Armstrong picked up a thigh strain on Sunday. We are linked with
Scunthorpe’s 24 year old ex-Leeds striker Jamie Forrester, who also might join the
diverse selection of Crewe, Man City, Northampton, Rushden and Diamonds and Utrecht. Paul
Barnes signs for Bury (wrong way round, surely?) for the bargain price of £40,000. Gerry
Harrison joins the ex-Claret crew at revitalised Hull on loan.
16/3 Mark Winstanley has his contract paid off with over a
year to go and is released from the club. He plays for Preston reserves that night.
Preston boss David Moyes says they have a lot of injury problems and that Winstanley, who
lives nearby, is just helping them out. He denies that a permanent move is in the offing.
Payton is rumoured to be fed up with the management and on the verge of leaving. 24 year
old Danish striker Jon Tveen Jensen arrives on trial from Viborg of the Danish Super
League. He scored 11 goals in 25 games and will be available on a free transfer come the
summer. Ternent stresses he’s not looking to bring him in to play this season. He
plays for the reserves. Port Vale Reserves 0 Burnley Reserves 2. Eastwood scores
both goals. Team: Kval (Mawson), Vindheim, Morgan, Ford, Heywood, Williamson, Maylett,
Graham (Kelly), Jensen (Shandran), Eastwood, Devenney. Ternent says that if Cowan plays
well we will try to make it permanent. Norman Whiteside is featured on BBC’s Football
Millionaires programme while working as a podiatrist at Turf Moor last season. York sack
their manager for being only slightly above us in the league
17/3 Seven Burnley supporters groups issue a statement
calling for CISA to be banned from future meetings between the board and supporters
representatives. The seven are Burnley, Colne, Accrington, Earby, Boundary, Rossendale and
ex-Clarets in Sport. Neither South West Clarets nor London Clarets were consulted. The
seven are believed to be annoyed about CISA’s call for a merchandise boycott earlier
in the season, and the publicity they received for it. Shaun Borman of the official
supporters club comments, "This, in my eyes, radical supporters' group were costing
the club thousands of pounds and then receiving all this publicity. They feel they are the
voice of the supporters and like to see themselves as speaking for everybody. But we don't
feel that's the case. They haven't supported anything for the club and they have done
nothing but upset directors and a few of the supporters. We just feel they are there to
rock the boat." From Colne Clarets, Alan Beecroft adds, "They don't do anything
constructive towards the club. Everything is in the negative. They don't support the club
in any positive way at all. Every time they speak or write an article it's knocking the
football club. Supporters' clubs should support the club." Presumably both consulted
their members before issuing these statements. Angus Williamson of CISA responds, "I
am very disappointed. Why didn't they approach us? I'm disappointed there's a feeling that
we can't speak together. We have tried to get people working together and they didn't want
to know. As far as we are concerned we want all the groups to work together. We don't want
antagonism. The whole idea of why CISA was set up was to create a communication link and,
without that, these two meetings wouldn't have happened. In our action plan last year we
circulated other supporters' groups with the view of coming up with good ideas to work on
but we got very little response from the other groups and the board ignored it." He
adds, "If anyone thinks the club is being well run they are in cloud cuckoo land. The
likes of Barry Kilby and Ray Ingleby want to know what the problems are but how will they
find out?" Clive Holt comments that they are unlikely to exclude CISA, but wishes the
clubs could agree. He says, "I would hope they could sort out an agenda and talk as
one voice in the best interests of the football club because what we all want, board and
supporters, is a successful football club." Meanwhile, we sign Cowan properly until
the end of the season, taking over his contract from Huddersfield. And on the eve of the
European match between Inter Milan and Man Utd, Inter’s groundsman, Steve Taylor from
Rawtenstall, bids for quote of the season when he says, "I'd rather be at Turf Moor
in my claret and blue woolly hat than watching the likes of Ronaldo." Hats off,
Steve.
18/3 John Jensen joins Oldham for a few days training.
Although Ternent says he hasn’t ruled out a permanent deal and would like a look in
the summer, it now seems likely that Oldham will attempt to sign him before the transfer
deadline. Ternent says he might try to sign one of three or four strikers before deadline
day. Paul Cook is rumoured to be in talks over a permanent move. Oxford are said to be
interested in Mark Ford.
19/3 Ternent says he hasn’t signed Cowan
for longer than the end of the season and we didn’t pay Huddersfield any money,
contrary to some suggestions. It’s rumoured he might play a defender up front
alongside Payton to add height to the attack.
20/3 Wrexham 1 Burnley 1. Mellon (75)
/ Brammer (14). Team: Crichton, Pickering, Cowan, Mellon, Davis, Brass, Little, Armstrong,
Cook, Payton, Branch. SNU: Eastwood, Williamson, Ford. Att: 4,151. Afterwards, Mellon says
our new team is starting to gel and we have the talent to stop up. Ternent describes the
result as "a step in the right direction" and says we were unlucky not to win
it. He comments, "I think we are creating chances and sooner or later someone's going
to get a beating. Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later. If we can maintain that
level of performance then I'm sure we will be fine. If we keep battling as we are doing
and playing as we are doing and believing in ourselves I'm sure we will be okay." At
half time, Wrexham mascot Rocky Robin gets married to his mascot fiancée.
22/3 Ternent is said to be trying to decide
whether he needs to sign a striker before transfer deadline day, or leave things as they
are, with Cooke and Jepson back soon and Payton playing up front on his own in the new
formation. He points out that suitable candidates may be thin on the ground, commenting,
"It's not just a case of getting somebody, it's can you get somebody? There are a lot
of other sides in this position and others going for promotion and the play-offs."
23/3 Burnley Reserves 1 Middlesborough
Reserves 5. Our second string are humbled by a (here we go again) very strong
Middlesborough side, including Gascoigne, Alun Armstrong and the one and only Marlon
Beresford, who receives a good response on his return home. A crowd of 1,531 turns up to
see them. Phil Eastwood scores our late consolation. Team: Mawson, Vindheim, Devenney,
West, Williamson, Morgan, Graham (Kelly 46), Ford (Kevan 46), Eastwood, Jepson (Shandran
47), Maylett. Ternent omits the now unsuspended Johnrose from the squad, indicating that
he intends him to play on Sunday. He also says that Jepson fared well in the half he
played, but is probably a week or so way from selection. Meanwhile, Paul McGregor, who we
were said to be interested in, joins Preston on loan from Nottingham Forest, while Jamie
Forrester may well be joining Rushden and Diamonds instead. We are also linked with Derek
Lilley of Leeds. Mark Winstanley signs a contract until the end of the season with
Preston. Barry Kilby describes the run in as "a ten game season" and says
everything at the club is focused on survival.
24/3 Colin Carr-Lawton and Carl Smith’s
Greek holiday turns sour as they return to England from Ethnikos. The club have hit
financial problems, Howard Kendall has been sacked and they can’t afford to pay the
players. The club seek to clarify if we can now pick them. Luckily, the lads bear a letter
from Greece explaining everything. Unfortunately, the letter is written in Greek. The club
appeal for a translator as Ternent contacts the PFA for help. Brian Reid goes for a scan
on the knee injury that has kept him out of the last few games. It’s suggested that
Peter Swan, currently at Lilleshall, may be back before the season’s end.
25/3 Transfer deadline day comes and goes but
the club signs no one. We make a late bid of £60,000 for Luton’s Graham Alexander,
but he decides to stick to his original decision to join Preston instead, despite the fact
that we are said to have offered to pay him more. To the popping of champagne corks pop
all over East Lancashire (and East London), Michael Williams joins Oxford for the rest of
the season. He is the last of the Ternent Four to leave. Oxford apparently have an injury
crisis and before they signed him only had fourteen fit players. Whereas now, they still
only have fourteen fit players. Their manager, ‘Mad’ Malcolm Shotton comments,
"I have known Michael for a little while and I know the calibre of the player."
Eek. The club’s PR machine takes this moment, when both relegation and local rivals
are strengthening their squads, to fill the Burnley news vacuum with details of next
year’s price rises. The average rise per supporter is around £30 over the season.
Adult seats will go up by £1 and concessionary seats by 50p, even if we go down. So it
could be third division football for £15 next season. The club say that the price
increases are needed to cover the increased wage bill and to allow our manager to compete
for players. So, same old crap, higher wage bill, higher prices. Hmm. Clive Holt says
that, since the prices last went up, the increase per year has been less than inflation.
He adds, "Players' wages have increased substantially over the last few years and
this price increase is required to bridge some of the gap. We hope supporters appreciate
that this is the main reason an increase is necessary. Your board is committed to
supporting the football management as much as is humanly possible in obtaining the best
players available to us." Speaking of the possibility of relegation, he continues,
"We are not thinking in those terms. We are thinking positively but God forbid if
that was to happen the harsh reality is that we need money. If we wanted to get out of
that situation we would need money. We are in a better position and are able to support
the football management to some tune but the fans are also part of it and have to play
their part. We are all paying the price for the Bosman situation." The rearranged
game at Wigan is re-rearranged to Bank Holiday Monday 3 May with a 3 o’clock kick
off, provoking thoughts of an attractive Northern weekender and a scramble for tickets.
The move apparently has something to do with Wigan’s auto Wembley visit a couple of
weeks before. Richard Cresswell, with whom we had been linked, joins Sheffield Wednesday
for £950,000. Jamie Forrester decides to stop at Scunthorpe.
26/3 It’s revealed that the parade of
dogs, provided by the Swankypants Canine Display Troupe, will feature in the next two home
half times. The dogs at the Macclesfield match will have a military theme, while Easter
Monday’s game against Colchester will see a four legged interpretation of Swan Lake.
28/3 Burnley 4 Macclesfield 3. Little
(17), Cowan (58), Payton (78), Davis (90) / Durkan (9, 63), Askey (14). Team: Crichton,
Pickering (Williamson 73), Cowan, Mellon, Davis, Brass, Little, Armstrong (Jepson 68),
Cook, Payton, Branch (Johnrose 55). Att: 10,533. See match report
for details. The game represents Steve Davis’ first win at Turf Moor since he
re-joined the club. Afterwards, managers Ternent and McIlroy exchange words as they leave
the pitch. Ternent denies he called Macclesfield a "pub team", but confirms both
he and the players had things to say to the cheat Efte Sodje. Reminding us of the away
game, he says, "This is the guy who was in the bar, and I have witnesses to it, after
the match bragging that he got Andy Cooke sent off and there was nothing wrong with him.
That's what all that was about and players have long memories." Ternent goes on to
set his target for safety: "I think that we need to get another four wins. That would
have been my target when I started, to get fifty points. And if we get that we would be
okay." Andy Payton expresses his relief at scoring for the first time in a while and
says, "You'd think we'd won the cup in the dressing room afterwards. But it is a step
in the right direction." Cowan’s goal is an overhead bicycle kick, and makes us
for his defensive slip which led to their opener. He says, "I don't think I'll ever
hit one like that in my life. I'll never catch it as right again and I'll probably never
go for one like that again."
29/3 It’s suggested that Mark Ford will
leave the club in the summer.
30/3 History is made as the club appoint our
first ever General Manager, Andrew Watson. Currently, Everton’s commercial manager,
the former Exeter player will start working at the club on 19th April. He says, "We
want to build a club everyone wants to be part of and it is important to listen to the
fans. Ultimately, we have to provide top-class service to Burnley supporters and, if we do
that, I am sure they will stay with us and bring along their friends and family." He
goes on, "I wouldn't have left Everton if I thought it was a drop. This is a step-up
in my career and I want to be part of making Burnley great again. In this day and age, you
have to be right off the field if you want to get it right on the pitch. We provide the
support for the manager. We have to build the commercial and marketing side and continue
to ensure that the youth and community schemes are good. Everyone in the game has told me
what an exciting challenge this is and I am very proud to be appointed as the club's first
general manager. The chairman is desperate to get things right off the field and the
potential excites me. I want to build a Premier League set-up and, while you cannot
guarantee anything in football, if we can get the nitty-gritty right I am sure it will
come together. We are also looking to create a brand-style for the name of Burnley. The
club has such a great past and, although we are looking to the future, we have to make
sure we take that heritage with us." Watson is 32 years old and has been with Everton
for five years. Barry Kilby comments, "I have looked at the business, talked to fans
and staff and recognised the need to improve our activities off the field of play if we
are to get it right on the field of play. Andrew left a Premier League club because he
believes in the potential of Burnley Football Club and wishes to build a Premier League
set up here at Turf Moor. We hope and expect Andrew will bring many new improvements, but
he will need the help of all the staff and fans alike to help us put Burnley back on the
road to the big time." Clive Holt adds, "We feel we are underachieving in
certain areas and that we can benefit, especially on the commercial side. Our existing
staff have done well for us but his appointment can only help them. I think they need a
few more tools in the bag."
31/3 Martin Doherty, a 20 year old left
midfielder released by Bolton, joins the club on trial. Andy Cooke continues his recovery,
but the weekend’s game will probably come too soon for him. After the success of the
kid a quid promotion against Macclesfield, the club announce that the same offer will
apply for the game against Colchester.
