1/5 Martin Hobbs, a Burnley based businessman, is appointed to the
club's Board. According to the official site, he's originally from Scotland and a former
Celtic supporter, but has been settled in Burnley for a number of years, running a
footwear importation business. Barry Kilby comments, "He has been a major shareholder
in the club for quite sometime and when he approached me to put further investment into
the club he was an obvious candidate to become a director. A board of seven people is the
right optimum for Burnley Football Club and I wouldn't envisage any more appointments,
certainly in the near future." Hobbs says, "I think Burnley Football Club is a
marvellous institution and the way the club has come on in the last few years has been
excellent. There is no doubt about it that the club can progress onto greater things. The
most important thing for the club is to get the fundamentals right and to give everyone
the opportunity to progress. The foundations are in place for long term success."
It's suggested that he may have put an additional £500,000 into the club. Ternent keeps
the feud with Warnock going. Reacting to Warlock's denial of spying on his half time
teamtalk, he comments, "If he says that he didn't then he's a liar." On other
matters, Ternent confirms that he will be looking to buy in the summer. He says, "I
have got the nucleus there. I need to bring in two or three players to strengthen the
squad, and if I can do that and we get a break we should be competitive and we should be
there or thereabouts." We're linked, not for the first time, with Man City midfielder
Tony Grant.
2/5 Chris Scott goes to America to train with Columbus Crew
(managed by Alan Dicks) in the hope of landing a contract. Preston fail to do the decent
thing, and Blackburn's two year stay in the first division is over. We'd like to think of
something funny to say, but we can't. Long time target Dele Adebola crashes out of
contention, with the news that a serious knee injury will keep him out for nine months.
Joe Royle says that, although we did enquire about Tony Grant in the past, we haven’t
made any new attempt to sign him.
3/5 An era very definitely comes to an end, as Rocket 'Ronnie'
Jepson retires from football. Now 37, the large one finally calls it a day due to his
persistent achilles problems. Jeppo comments, " I knew I was perhaps only going to
play a bit-part this season and I've tried to do what I can to do but with injuries at my
age you just can't keep going. It's disappointing, but I'm lucky to have kept playing. I'm
38 this month so I've had a good time and the clubs I've been at have had a bit of
success, so it's been good. Winning promotion with Burnley is a highlight, and Bury was
the same, but to come to Burnley and turn it around as the gaffer has done was
unbelievable really. I enjoyed playing and I might still have a game on a Sunday morning,
I don't know. I'll just see how it goes." I think I’ll miss him.
4/5 The club report that 9,500 season tickets have already been
sold for next season.
5/5 It'll be a trip to Coventry as well as Bradford next season, as
Wee Gordon's grim losers finally give up the ghost. Of course, when we played them in the
Cup last year we went to all ten Good Beer Guide listed pubs, on the basis that we don't
often play Coventry.
6/5 Burnley 2 Watford 0. Scorers: Payton 74, Mullin 90. Team:
Michopoulos, Thomas, Davis, Armstrong, Briscoe, Little (Payton 61), Weller, Ball, Cook
(Cox 81), Taylor, Moore (Mullin 66). SNU: Crichton and West. Att: 18,283. See our match report. And
so the season finishes with us placed 7th. In the form table, we're 1st.
We ended up with 72 points, with West Brom one place above us in the final play off spot
on 74. What price those two late goals home and away? Our average home gate finishes at
16,234. Presentations are made before the game to the retiring Jeppo and Graham Taylor.
Huddersfield surprisingly manage to get relegated, despite being near safety for weeks, so
we will go to Fratton and Selhurst (twice) Parks next season after all. We did our bit,
taking six points off Huddersfield, and the other two relegated sides, Tranmere and QPR.
Our other doubles were against Norwich, Wimbledon and, of course, Watford. After the
match, Ternent says, "The expectation level next year will be pretty high but the
players are certainly up to it, in my view. I think I'm close to having a good side. The
players are fantastic professionals, and all credit to them for a marvellous season."
7/5 And we're to brave the unfriendly dump that is Maine Road next
season, as Joe Royle's team of cloggers finally limps out of the premier league. Just you
wait, they'll be 'too good for this division' next season. Again.
8/5 Paul Smith is the most high profile of the players released by
the club, and the only surprise. The others - Chris Scott, Michael Devenney, Alex Kevan
and John Boardman - were previously trailed. Of Smith, Ternent says, "Paul has had a
tremendous career at Turf Moor. He needs regular first team football to enable him to
progress. We can't offer him that and I am sure he will find a club that will give him the
opportunity to develop his career." Smith made 111 first team appearances for
Burnley, the first being at Exeter in May 1994. Gordon Armstrong is offered a further one
year contract. In the evening, it's time for the various player of the year awards to be
handed out. Ian Cox wins the London Clarets player of the year award, for which hats must
be raised. Paul Weller and NTG get the lion's share. The full and rather long list of
awards is as follows: Accrington Clarets - Paul Weller (with awards for young player of
the year to Bradley Maylett, goal of the season to Ian Moore against Preston away and a
special achievement award to Paul Weller); Barrowford Clarets - Nik Michopoulos; Boundary
Clarets - Paul Weller (with awards for young player of the year to Bradley Maylett, goal
of the season to Ian Moore against Preston away, special lifetime award to Chris Brass,
clean sheet award and presentation to Burnley General Hospital for Nik Michopoulos and
outstanding achievement award to Stan Ternent); Burnleyfootballclub.com (eh?) - Paul
Weller; Burnley Supporters Club - joint between Nik Michopoulos and Paul Weller (with
awards for most promising player to Anthony Shandran, young player of the year to Bradley
Maylett and goal of the season to Paul Weller against Wimbledon at home); Central
Lancashire Clarets - Steve Davis (with awards for young player of the year to Bradley
Maylett , best newcomer to Nik Michopoulos, most improved player to Paul Weller and goal
of the season to Ian Moore against Preston away); CISA - Paul Weller; Claret and Blue
Supporters Club - Paul Weller; Clarets Foundation - Nik Michopoulos; Colne Clarets - joint
between Nik Michopoulos and Paul Weller (with awards for young player of the year to
Anthony Shandran and goal of the season to Ian Moore against Preston away); Earby Clarets
- Nik Michopoulos; Junior Claret and Blues - Paul Weller; Rossendale Clarets - Nik
Michopoulos (with an award for young player of the year to Bradley Maylett); Shooters Arms
Clarets - Nik Michopoulos; South West Clarets - Paul Weller; John Watson Trophy for young
player of the year - Bradley Maylett. Phew.
9/5 Lenny Johnrose is to have another achilles operation, in the
hope of being back for the start of the season. More than 10,000 season tickets have now
been sold.
10/5 It looks odds on that we'll sign Gareth Taylor. Ternent says,
"I have got to sort that out. I need to see his agent as soon as I can and if I can I
will sort out a deal. He's done very well for us and I certainly want to add Gareth to our
squad." Taylor does joins the squad - on their end of season trip to Portugal. The
speculation that we'll sign QPR's Peter Crouch is, however, denied. Good news for anyone
wanting to pick up a West Ham player on the cheap, as Glenn Roeder-to-Nowhere proves you
can't keep a bad man down by taking over as Caretaker Manager of West Ham, following Harry
Redknapp's sacking. Roeder has apparently been a coach at West Ham for the last few years,
and will now be an actual premier league manager for at least one game. But surely he
won’t, he can’t, get the job full time? Meanwhile, in an odd piece of
synchronicity, Mark Wright is appointed the new Manager of Oxford, which means that
following him as Assistant Manager from Southport is one Kevin Clifton McMinn, AKA the Tin
Man. Chris Brass is revealed to be joining the team in Portugal too. Speaking in the
Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Brass says lots of nice things about Burnley, including,
"The chairman has done everything right, we're building for the future, the
foundations are there… It will be interesting and I'll be looking as a supporter to
see what the manager does in the summer. He has to now keep on building on the success
that we've had over the last two years." Oh his new club, he adds, "You can hope
you can emulate the success Burnley have had in the last few years in the lower divisions
and take the formula I've learnt from managers, and especially Stan, over to York and
breed the winning and the success that he does… I think if everybody tries and
everybody pulls together you can get that success, which you can see in Burnley. You had
teams in the past perhaps under-achieving but now everybody's done as well as they can. We
gained promotion and have done better than probably anyone can have expected in the First
Division but that's all credit to the lads and the management because he has got everybody
wanting this. They are hungry and if you've got that you really do have half a
chance." About his reception at the end of season awards ceremony, he says, "I
didn't expect it but it was nice to be received like that. I do have fond memories of
Burnley and Burnley have fond memories of me, but it was a very humbling experience.
Football is a short career and everything is based on memories and I can take this as
another special memory. I'm a very lucky person… Everyone who came the other night
and stood up and applauded me would have loved to have done what I've done for Burnley
Football Club. I've been captain of Burnley Football Club which is the biggest privilege
you can probably have in the town and I'll always have that. You can't take that away and
I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I will always have fond memories for Burnley and they will
always have a special place in my heart." Aww.
11/5 Stan Ternent is taken into Burnley General Hospital after
complaining of chest pains. A heart attack is initially feared, although thankfully his
illness is later found to be less serious. He misses the trip to Portugal, and is kept in
for observation. The club issue an official statement, which reads in full, "Burnley
Football Club can confirm that manager Stan Ternent was admitted to Burnley General
Hospital this morning. Contrary to press speculation, Mr Ternent has not had a suspected
heart attack and his family request that respect is given to his privacy."
13/5 Stan is released from hospital. He is now said to have been
suffering from a gastric ulcer, and to have been admitted due to stomach rather than chest
pains. Onetime Claret Mark Robertson makes his debut for Dundee, having joined them on a
three year deal. Remarkable.
14/5 A micro-rumour re-links us with Graham Kavanagh, said to have
had enough of Stoke. And who can blame him?
15/5 We offer a warm welcome back to the Eddie Howe rumour.
16/5 Burnley FC closes down for the day as the entire backroom
staff go off to the races. Honest. Andy Cooke won't be making an early return to the first
division, as Stokey lose to Walsall in the play-offs. Kevin Henderson is also a loser with
Hartlepool. A highly speculative piece of gossip links us with Brentford midfielder Martin
Rowlands.
17/5 We would appear to be playing second division Huddersfield at
home in a pre-season friendly on Thursday 2 August. Err… why? It has also been
suggested that we will play Shrewsbury the night after, or possibly Saturday. Add Danny
Sonner to the list of ex-Clarets who won't be at the play-off finals, as Trevor Francis'
Birmingham, to no one's great surprise, blow it against Preston.
18/5 Now Paul Smith goes for a trial at Columbus Crew. Surely he
can do better? Craig Mawson is released by Halifax, who he joined in February, along with
other ex-Clarets Robbie Painter and Steve Thompson, while Graham Lancashire and Mark
Monington are released by Rochdale. Paul Barnes, late of Nuneaton, signs for Doncaster.
19/5 Chris Scott returns from the States without a contract. Oddly
enough, Glenn Roeder's West Ham lose.
20/5 The day's barmy rumour links us with Dennis Irwin. Yeah,
right.
21/5 It's rumoured that Bristol City have turned down an offer to
do some kind of swap deal between Payton and Tony Thorpe, fortunately. Payton himself says
he still wants to score 100 goals for Burnley. He's 23 off. A full list of pre-season
fixtures is unveiled, including our by now customary match against Everton, at home on
Tuesday 31 July, along with aforementioned games at home to Huddersfield on 2 August and
away to Shrewsbury on 4 August. Work begins on the pitch, replacing meadow grass with
premium rye grass. This will mean improved drainage. Thank you very much, Alan Titchmarsh.
22/5 Ah, the 'Burnley to sign Nick Daws' story emerges again, like
the first swallow of summer, as Stan might put it. We're also linked with Chris Lucketti,
ex Bury player now with second division Huddersfield, allegedly in exchange for the
perennially mentioned Payton. Lou Macari, the manager who so nearly steered Huddersfield
to mediocrity, denies any interest. Meanwhile, Burnley unveil a scheme where season ticket
holders can have their name emblazoned, I think the word is, on their seats for a mere
additional tenner. Always looking at ways of extracting a few quid, this lot. Whatever
next? Adopt your own blade of grass? Meanwhile, Peyton joins Fulham's coaching staff, and
yes, it is our one time goalkeeper Gerry.
23/5 Gordon Armstrong agrees his new contract. Have we been linked
with 36 year old Stuart McCall recently? We have now. He doesn't seem to be getting on
with Bradford, and we are therefore alleged to be interested in the 36 year old. Ternent
has worked with the 36 year old before, during a spell at Bradford, but then, that hardly
narrows it down. Rumour has it that we turned down a friendly against Fiorentina, who are
touring England this summer. Maybe, but they're not playing Huddersfield, are they?
Sticking with Europe, the European Cup Final takes place in Milan, resulting in more
publicity for Clarets-supporting San Siro groundsman Steve Taylor. The club kite fly a
scheme whereby supporters would lend them £100 towards developing Gawthorpe and be 'paid
back' with £10 worth of discounts a year over ten years. Apparently this worked in
Germany for Schalke. If 7,500 people did this, the club would get the £750,000 they want
to improve Gawthorpe. The club stress that they are simply seeking reactions at this
stage.
24/5 Yet another side look set to finish below us next season, as
Man City humorously appoint Keggy Keegle as their Acting Manager. It isn't thought that
this will have any bearing on our proposed signing of Gareth Taylor.
25/5 There appears to be nothing in the rumours that we are to sign
Donkey Lasher and ex Bastard Brett Ormerod. Good.
26/5 The London Clarets' post-season weekend in Edinburgh begins. A
splendid time is had by all, particularly as there are lots of hills to walk up and the
pubs stay open late. Gary Parkinson and Brian Reid will be bringing their variable
defensive talents to the second division next season, as Blackpool somehow get promoted.
Perhaps they'll build their new ground in time for the start of the season. Or the start
of any season.
27/5 Balti pies aplenty next season as Walsall beat Reading in a
fairly wacky play-off to secure a temporary promotion to our division.
28/5 And it's back once again to the fleshpots of Preston as Nob
End comfortably lose their play off final against Bolton. Pity less than 55,000 supporters
bother to turn up and see it.
29/5 Yet another side look set to finish below us next season as
Steve 'right, that's it, I'm off' Bruce flounces out of Wigan to join Crystal Palace. I
suppose for someone who can't hold down a job, a position at a club that gets through a
couple of managers a season was never going to be a long time prospect. Brucey should fit
in better at a perma-crisis club. But has he ever achieved anything as a manager, I ask
myself? We're now linked with Ian Nolan, another player not wanted by no nonsense
Bradford.
30/5 Lenny Johnrose is getting married. Bless. His ankle operation
seems to have gone well and he's now doing rehabilitation work. And, at the end of May,
here we are back being linked with first division Coventry's John Aliosi again.
31/5 The club launches a survey on their official website to find
out whether fans would be prepared to pay money for web broadcasting, including match
commentary and highlights. A figure of £4.99 a month is mentioned. Changes are unveiled
to the Clarets Foundation. The membership limit will be increased to 3,000, and the once a
year cash prize will be £25,000, up from this season's £10,000. One of the additional
benefits for members will be free access to a special bar at Turf Moor, formerly known as
the Centre Spot. Uh? It's said that the Foundation has brought in £200,000 so far.
Speaking at the launch of these changes at Colne Muni, Ray Ingleby says, "Our goal is
the Premiership. I am convinced in the next few years it is where we have got to be. That
is the goal of the directors and the aspirations of the manager, players and fans. And we
can get there with a little bit of luck and support from the fans."
