1/5 Safe! Burnley 1 Fulham 0. Jepson (81). Team:
Crichton, Pickering (Johnrose 51), Cowan, Mellon, Davis, Brass, Little, Cook, Cooke,
Branch (Jepson 46), Armstrong. SNU: Reid. Att: 13,086. See match
report for details. For the first time this season, we win two in a row. Oldham’s
defeat and a draw for Wycombe now means four sides cannot catch us. After we give the
runaway Champions a guard of honour as they take the pitch, Steve Davis puts the ball in
the net early on, but offside is given. Fulham finish the game with nine men, losing a
player to injury after using all three subs before Kit Symons is sent off for a
professional foul on Cooke towards the end. Ternent says afterwards, "I am delighted
for everyone. It has been the hardest season that I have ever had as a manager for varying
reasons, which I won't go into, and I'm glad that we have put it to bed. I think there's a
bit of light at the end of the tunnel, hopefully so anyhow. I'm pleased for the club, the
board of directors and the players that we are in this division next year. It's been a
long, hard road. We've had a lot of setbacks along the way but all credit to the players.
They have stuck at it and they have got their just reward in my view. I can now look at
next season and the retained list and all the things I have to sort out." Ternent
also thanks "the chairman for sticking with me and hopefully in the long term it will
prove to be the correct decision." The club also confirms that Steve Davis will have
a double hernia operation as soon as possible. Ternent says, ""Steve Davis has
played the last eight games with a double hernia. It hasn't gone to press and I appreciate
that. Steve will now go into hospital and get that done. I think he deserves credit. Lenny
Johnrose has also played unfit, Andy Payton has played unfit, Andy Cooke's not 100 per
cent and Ronnie Jepson's not 100 per cent. But it just shows the commitment and the will
so I think all credit to the players." Payton failed a pre-match fitness test. Of the
match itself, Ternent adds, "It was a tough match against an extremely good side. I
thought it was a very disciplined performance from our players. We created some good
chances and eventually I felt we got out just rewards. I think we just shaded it. Overall
it was a good performance, the crowd was absolutely blinding and all's well that ends
well." He goes on to say that we will not slacken, and he wants to keep the run
going: "We have a responsibility to other teams." Goal scorer Ronnie Jepson is
quick not to take all the credit, saying, "This is the first time I have ever been in
a relegation battle. It was quite new to me but I have just played my part, running up and
down the line moaning at the linesman and things, because Stan keeps sending me. But it's
brilliant for Burnley Football Club that we are still in this division. It's a great
relief, superb. We have worked hard in training and haven't let our heads drop when
results have gone against us. A few weeks ago we thought 49 points would be enough but
teams below us have had an unbelievable run of results so it is a great relief. It was
nice to get a goal but the lads at the back and in midfield scrapped for that and it was a
goal for the team for the hard work they put in. Everyone thought Fulham would take it
easy, but believe me, it wasn't. There were a few tackles flying around out there, believe
me. But it was nice to see Burnley match people and get the three points because at the
start of the season we went under too easily. It's great to get a first goal - it was nice
that Stan played me up front for a bit! But I have never been an out-and-out goalscorer as
such. I have always led the line and other people have got the goals off me. It's a great
thrill to score a goal but it's not that personal for me. It's more for the team. If we
keep going and sticking together as a team someone will get a goal and it's for all of us.
Whether my future is here or wherever I am just looking forward to getting myself fit over
the summer and getting this calf built up and just take it from there." England and
soon to be ex-Fulham manager is not available for comment. Despite the fact that he had
earlier said that Burnley rather than Budapest is what football is all about, he seems to
be upset that we gave his pampered players a game. Our average gate for this season
finishes at 9,298.
3/5 Wigan 0 Burnley 0. Team: Crichton,
Pickering, Cowan, Mellon, Reid, Brass, Little, Cook (Jepson 82), Cooke (Maylett 89),
Johnrose, Armstrong. Att: 5,528. See match report for details.
We put a huge dent in Wigan’s play off hopes, battling to a draw in the fierce heat
despite the predictable absence of Davis. Crichton saves a penalty wrongly given just
before half time, and keeps us in the game with a string of saves. Honestly. Andy Cooke
misses our best chance near the end. Glen Little plays up front alongside him. Graham
Branch misses the game with the ankle injury he picked up against Fulham. We are now in
13th place. The news of the day is, however, that Stan Ternent misses the game. The club
say he is on a scouting mission, so Sam Ellis takes charge of the team. However, Ternent
says he isn’t at the day’s only other league match, Chesterfield v Northampton
(which leaves Northampton having to beat us on Saturday and hope for other results), and
it’s thought likely he’s watching someone’s reserves. Of the game, Manager
for a day Ellis comments, "We have a good spirit at this present time and the
resilience is getting into the team. It was a test of our professionalism and I thought
they came through that really well." Chris Brass says, "It looks like Burnley's
a club that's going places for once. We are looking very hard to beat now which is a good
thing." After some speculation that Ternent might take Manager of the Month, the
prize goes to Ray Graydon of Walsall, for overseeing their implausible promotion. The
result of the away shirts fans vote is announced. By far the most popular choice is,
surprise surprise, a white shirt with a bit of Claret and Blue. Shorts will be blue with a
bit of Claret and white. This choice took 740 of the 1,000+ votes.
4/5 Burnley Reserves 0 Man City 0. Somehow
failing to conform to the end of season party mood, the reserves go down. A last ditch
everything but the kitchen sink assault fails to yield the needed goal. We now pin our
hopes on restructuring. Team: Mawson, Scott (Vindheim), Devenney, Ford, Heywood, West,
Maylett, Robertson, Henderson, Shandran, Smith. The reserves used 52 players in all.
Rumours spread that the club may be interested in signing 35 year-old ex-Barnsley
player-manager John Hendrie, who saw the game against Fulham as Stan Ternent’s guest.
They know each other from Bradford, apparently.
5/5 Lots of injury news, oddly enough now we’re
safe. Andy Payton goes for a scan on his injured thigh. Although he hopes to play at
Northampton, needing two more goals for a personal best, it doesn’t look likely.
Steve Davis goes for his hernia op. Lenny Johnrose has a calf scan, while Branch’s
ankle injury has ended his season. It's rumoured that we will sign a goalkeeper in the
summer.
6/5 Gordon Armstrong says we are
beginning to look like a good side. He pinpoints the Preston home game as the turning
point, with the addition of Cowan and Cook making a big difference. Rochdale sack their
manager, and one Ronnie Jepson is suggested as a possible candidate. His contract runs out
this summer, but it is thought that Ternent plans to offer him another year. Ahead of their crunch
relegation match, a Carlisle fan writes, "I never thought I'd see Carlisle in this
situation. When Burnley avoided relegation on the final day in 1987, I wanted them to go
down. I was at Darlington's final league game in 1989, when I joined in with the mocking
chants of the Carlisle supporters. I'd like to think I wouldn't do that now. I wouldn't
wish non-league oblivion on anyone, not even Burnley."
7/5 Ternent says he plans to give Paul Smith half an
hour at Northampton, in order to end his season on an upbeat note. He adds that he wants
to finish unbeaten, but he will be forced to make changes now we are no longer asking
players to play with injuries. Damian Matthew will not play against us, being injured
himself (Lancashire Evening Telegraph headline: Damian and the Omens). Matthew says this
is not quite what he expected when he left Crystal Palace three years ago. He was, of
course, a member of our side which escaped relegation on the final day one season ago.
Northampton say that any Burnley supporter found in the home stands will be thrown out.
Looking back on the year, Ronnie Jepson says he wishes the season wasn’t ending:
"It's just a shame it didn't come a bit earlier. We have got some winners in the club
now and the lads wish the season was just starting. Now we are not getting beaten easily.
We will stand up man-for-man and we will stick together collectively. We won't play as
individuals, we will play as a team." Ternent says next season will all be about
competition for places. Meanwhile, ex-Claret Ian Duerden, released by waddle, is said to
be interesting Bolton and Wolves after a fine season at Doncaster, including scoring two
goals in the final of the Endsleigh Trophy.
8/5 Northampton 2 Burnley 2. Cook (pen 69),
Cooke (88) / Savage (7), Howey (80). Team: Crichton, Pickering (Maylett 33), Cowan,
Mellon, Reid, Brass, Little, Cook, Cooke, Robertson (P Smith 57), Armstrong. SNU: Heywood.
Att: 7,435. See match report for details. So the long hard
season ends amid a downpour with an eleven match unbeaten run. The game is quickly
rendered meaningless when Oldham take an early 2-0 lead, but Crichton does his best to try
to send Northampton out with a win, allowing Clarets reject Lee Howey to score against us.
The game represents Maylett’s longest crack at first team action, and our penalty is
given for a foul on him. Ternent praises Cooke and Paul Smith for finishing tough seasons
on an upbeat note. Cooke has now scored on the final day of the season in the last three
years. Northampton striker Carlo Corrazzin, ex-Plymouth, is relegated by us on the final
day for the second season running (hope he signs for Wycombe). We finish 15th with 53
points. We have used 44 first team players this season. Burnley supporters get more
excited about results in other places. With already relegated Nottingham Forest winning at
Deadwood Park, and Southampton winning away for the first time since the war, it really
starts like Blackburn might go down. Along with Lee Howey’s Northampton, York,
Lincoln and Macclesfield go down. York drop despite having the magic fifty points. The
only sour note of the day is Carlisle’s last gasp preservation of league status, with
a flukey injury time goal scored by a keeper they mysteriously took on loan after the
transfer deadline. This means Scarborough go down, taking Tony Parks, Jamie Hoyland and
ex-first division striker Liam Robinson with them. Burnley A top the Lancashire League by
beating Leek Town Reserves, but Tranmere can still finish top as they have a game to play.
9/5 Oxford are relegated from Division One, despite
having the talents of Michael Williams at their disposal.
10/5 Ternent begins the process of putting his retained
list together. He’ll be talking to all the players whose contracts are due to run out
to either offer them a new deal or tell them they’re on their way. There is also a
question mark over Paul Cook’s future.
11/5 Tom Cowan says he wants to carry on playing for
Burnley and hopes to be given a new contract, commenting, "I want to play for Burnley
now. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here." Rumours start that we are about to make
a bid to re-sign Marlon Beresford. However, while it looks as though Ternent does want
another keeper, Beresford may not be available. We’re also linked with 29 year-old
Crewe defender Chris Lightfoot, along with Chester, Wigan and Preston.
12/5 Big surprises as Ternent announces his retained
list. The shock news is that Pickering and Reid will not be offered new contracts. We
release twelve players in all: Carr-Lawton, Eastwood, Ford, Graham, Henderson, Kval,
Moore, Morgan, Pickering, Reid, C Smith and West. Cowan, Jepson, Robertson and Swan are
all offered new deals, however, and of the youngsters, Devenney, Heywood, Kelly, Kevan,
Mawson and Williamson are retained, while Rune Vindheim is thought to have another year
left on his contract. Ternent says, "I have had to make some tough decisions this
time round but that's what I'm paid for and I've made them." He adds that those
released had little prospect of playing in the first team so it’s in their interests
to move on. It’s thought that he lost patience with Reid allegedly stalling over his
offer of a new contract, while he says that he doesn’t consider Pickering a long term
choice at right back. This would seem to suggest that he already has a replacement in
mind, and it’s suggested that this could be Bury’s 26 year-old Dean West, a
player Ternent signed before. Central defender Chris Lucketti is also being talked about,
but it seems that he wants to play in the first division and might cost too much.
Huddersfield are said to have bid £1,000,000 for him. Meanwhile, the club announce our
first pre-season friendlies. We’re at home to Everton on Thursday 22 July and
Su’lan on Sunday 25 July. After last summer’s roadshow, Ternent is understood to
want to keep things close to home this time round. Oh, and before we forget, Blackburn
draw with Man Utd at Deadwood Park, a result which sends them down into the Nationwide
League. Despite Woy Hodgson’s and Brian Kidd’s £40,000,000
‘investment’ on new players this season, they’re set to play Port Vale,
Crewe, Grimsby, Stockport and Walsall next season. It’s party night in Burnley and
most points south.
13/5 Brian Reid says he’s shocked and disappointed
to have his offer of a new contract withdrawn, and adds that he would have signed. Should
have thought about that sooner, Brian. He says, "It came out of the blue. It was the
last thing I expected. I'm disappointed as I would have liked to have stayed and I thought
I had done quite well over the year." He wonders if Ternent thought he was stalling
because he hadn’t yet responded to the offer. Hmm, perhaps. He concludes, "You
don't get a much bigger club than Burnley which has great support home and away. I've
enjoyed my time here and been made to feel very welcome." A move back to Scotland
looks likely. Meanwhile, 14 year old Paul Scott, Clarets youth player, is put on standby
for the England Under 15 squad. Yes, in case you’re wondering, he is the brother of
Chris Scott, son of Derek Scott, grandson of Brian Miller and nephew of David Miller.
Mansfield release Fourth Division Championship Claret Steve Harper; non-league Scarborough
decide to let Liam 'Spencer' Robinson go.
14/5 The London Clarets have rather a good time at the APFSCIL end of season party with our friends the
Blackburn London Branch. Cheers! Bryan Robson’s Middlesborough say Marlon Beresford
is staying. Viv Anderson says, "I don't know where the stories regarding Marlon
started, but it is total rubbish. We have no intentions of letting him go." Alleged
target Lightfoot looks set to sign for Preston.
15/5 Ternent sets his sights higher next season in an
interview in The
Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "It's been a difficult season and I'm pleased we've
come through it. Everyone is saying 'well done this and well done that'. My idea of well
done is not maintaining a Second Division status, although saying that after what we've
been through this year we will have to be satisfied for this time around. Well done would
be getting up to the top part of the league and maintaining what we have done over the
last 11 games, the level of performance, resilience and the will-to-win. We have been a
difficult side to beat. Since I came to the club we have had the facility to score goals.
We just need to stiffen it up." He adds, "My idea was to bring some stability to
the club and now that we have got through this season it was a good thing that we
maintained our status. But as far as the supporters were concerned it was kind of a lost
season - another lost season. The expectation level is great and I understand that. They
want to get into the First Division and I know the players and I do. Next season we will
start on an even keel." All the speculation continues to centre on Bury players.
17/5 We are linked with Crewe striker Mark Rivers,
although as he’s been playing first team football in a higher division, this looks
more than a little unlikely. Ternent is currently on holiday, so no deals will be done
just yet. Blackpool are believed to be interested in waddle signing Mark Ford. Nigel
Worthington knows him from Leeds. (Lancashire Evening Telegraph headline: Blackpool look
to Focus on Ford.)
18/5 Dean West looks odds on to join us when his
contract expires. He’s principally a right back, although Neil Warnock has been
playing him in midfield. We haven’t lost interest in Nicky Daws either. Ternent says
he hopes crowds will stay above the 10,000 break even figure and continue to rise, in
order to finance future transfers. CISA representatives meet with the official Burnley
Supporters Club to iron out their differences, which should hopefully avoid another of
those damaging rows. It’s planned for the supporters groups to meet up and try to
agree a common agenda prior to future board-supporters meetings. Scunthorpe, Halifax and
Carlisle are all believed to be interested in Kevin Henderson, while Brian Reid could go
to either St Mirren or Falkirk.
19/5 The latest player who will not end up signing is
Chesterfield’s Mark Williams. The central defender is a Northern Ireland
International, out of contract, and said to be interesting Aberdeen, Barnsley, Fulham,
Port Vale and QPR. Notice anything about those sides? Speculation about John Mullin is
re-heated, possibly involving a Glen Little part exchange. Steve Bruce walks out on
Sheffield Utd, and Adrian Heath is the hot tip to replace him, having won the Pontins
League for Su’lan’ Reserves. Altogether now: Sheffield Utd is the only club
I’ve ever wanted to manage.
20/5 Eek! 34 year-old ‘defender’ Mitchell
Thomas is linked with a free transfer to Burnley. Although Luton have offered him a new
deal, the financial uncertainty at the club is a problem. Davis is supposed to be great
mates with the left-sided player, who will hopefully not be signed instead of Tom Cowan.
There's some speculation he may combine playing with a coaching role. Tranmere end up
winning the Lancashire League on goal difference from Burnley ‘A’. The reserves
are reprieved after all, as Premier League and top Nationwide teams split off from the
Pontins League to form their own contest. What’s left will be split into regional
divisions, and we therefore find ourselves in the top division of a northern league
stripped of the best teams. Goalkeeper Dean Kiely, who we had been linked with, joins
Charlton from Bury.
21/5 Cowan begins contract talks, saying, "I think
the team are capable of doing big things next season." Davis starts rehabilitation
work in a bid to get fit for pre-season training. Another OAP joins the list of possibles:
we are now linked with Port Vale veteran Neil Aspin, who Ternent knows from his days at
Leeds. However, Darlington are also interested in the 34 year-old. Darlington are also now
linked with Henderson, along with Torquay. He says he knows he can play first team league
football and has no plans to return to the banking job he quit to join Burnley. He adds
that he has no regrets about joining us, but wasn’t particularly surprised to be
released.
22/5 Millwall are also said to be interested in
Mitchell Thomas. Having spent all his life in the south east, the lure of not having to
move home might be a powerful one. Ternent refuses to comment on any of the speculation,
but a ‘friend’ of Thomas allegedly says, "I believe they are ready to offer
more money than Millwall but he has been around here all his life and it could well be he
would prefer to go to a London club." Wigan sack their manager, having lost in the
play-offs, and appoint a ghost from another era, John Benson, as their caretaker manager.
24/5 Manager of relegated Bury Neil Warnock says that
Dean West will join Burnley when his contract expires at the end of June. With a hint of
bitterness and just a touch of sour grapes, Warnock comments, "Dean West has told me
of his wish to join Burnley. He says he believes that they are a bigger and more ambitious
club than Bury. And he believes that he has a better chance of being successful. He will
be offered a far bigger contract than anything Bury can afford to offer him if Lenny
Johnrose is anything to go by. It may give our local rivals a big advantage but money does
not give you everything. You only have to look at Blackburn for proof." Meanwhile,
Nick Daws is offered a deal which will make him Bury’s highest paid player. Daws is
apparently good mates with Johnrose but could cost £500,000. Another rumour has it that
we are now in talks with John Hendrie. Ternent says of it all "That is speculation
and I won't comment on speculation." Ipswich could throw a considerable spanner in
our works. They are said to be interested in Mullin.
25/5 Out of contract Su’lan’ left winger
Martin Smith is linked with us. Although Pe’er Ree is said to rate him, having once
called him their " most-talented footballer," Smith wants first team football.
Barnsley, Derby County, Manchester City, Notts County, West Brom and Hibernian may also be
interested. Ternent denies he has offered £100,000 for Paul Cook. He says he doesn’t
know whether Stockport will want a fee, but admits he would like to sign him and believes
Cook wants to come here. He denies we are after Neil Aspin. Clive Holt announces that
undersoil heating will be installed by the start of the season. The pipes were laid last
year, and this further ‘six figure investment’ will install a boiler. A couple
of drainage problems will also be cleared up and the track replaced. We bid farewell to
the Cricket Field boiler, installed in one of the odder episodes in club history when Bob
Lord briefly attempted to offer heated seating in the then new stand. Holt says "We
should not lose any games to frozen pitches and hopefully with the drainage working
properly and the heating running we will be postponement-proof," adding that with the
old pitch we might have faced potentially disastrous fixture congestion at the end of this
season. Andrew Watson attends a question and answer session at a CISA meeting. A summary
of the meeting is available on The Unofficial
Burnley Website. Follow the 'CISA News' link.
26/5 Further news of the Ternent Four: Preston release
Mark Winstanley. Despite missing out on the play-offs, John Ward is offered a new contract
as number two at Wolves. The usual semi-first team friendly at Accrington Stanley is
arranged for Thursday 29 July. Peter Swan will miss the start of the season. He is not
expected to play until September at the earliest. As well as John Mullin and Martin Smith,
we may be interested in a third Su’lan’ player, Martin Scott. Scott is 31 and
ten clubs are said to be in for him, with Ipswich the favourites.
27/5 A strong rumour spreads that Little has been sold
to Su’lan’ for £1,000,000. Ternent is forced to deny it. He says, "I am
tired of repeating that Glen Little is not for sale," before going on interestingly
"and I can tell you that if he was being sold - which certainly isn't the case - then
£1,000,000 would be nowhere near what I would want for him. I signed him on a new
contract and he is part of my plans. He is not for sale." It appears that Wolves, if
anyone, may be more likely to sign him. The yawnsome Paul Cook story will drag on still
longer as Gary Megson goes on his hols, but not before he says they’ll want a
"small fee" for him.
28/5 Andrew Watson says the club are on target to beat
last year’s season ticket sales. As they’ve gone up, this means more money for
the club. The club actually advertise them in the local press.
29/5 The club are said to be trying to set up more
local friendlies. Ternent says fans shouldn’t have to travel too far to see the team
in action. Thanks a lot. Huddersfield, Halifax and Rochdale are all possible away games.
31/5 Adi Akinbiyi, of relegated Bristol City, is linked
with us. As he would cost over £1,000,000, perhaps £2,000,000 and wants to play in
another division, this looks less than likely. Man City or Wolves look more likely. How
the same few teams seem to keep cropping up.
