For the fans: Burnley chairman promises to give away 7,000 season tickets if Clarets win at Wembley

21 May 2009 22:09
Burnley will give 7,000 fans free Barclays Premier League season tickets if they beat Sheffield United in Monday's Championship play-off game at Wembley. [LNB]Chairman Barry Kilby persuaded supporters to pay for two season tickets at once as the club struggled for cash last summer - and promised that they would get a full refund on the second one if Owen Coyle's team got promoted. [LNB]Now, with Burnley on the brink of a return to the top flight after an absence of 33 years, Kilby is ready to pay out in the region of £2million next week. [LNB] Burnley progress: scorer Paterson (bottom, centre) enjoys semi-final glory at Reading[LNB]He said: 'We called it "the chairman's pledge". If we go up, thenpeople who bought season tickets for next season will get their moneyback. All of these people have stood with us through thick and thin. Itwould be just a case of them sharing our success. It doesn't frightenme. [LNB]  Eagles soaring towards the top flight thanks to words of wisdom from Manchester United boss Sir AlexThe side with fuel to Burn: Coyle's promotion hopefuls just keep on goingPlease release me! Who's gone and who's going from every club'We would be the smallest team up there in terms of the size of thetown. There are just over 70,000 people here but it is a real footballtown. People here cling on to this club. It has kept them going.' [LNB]Having lost between £3m-£4m this season - despite two good cup runs- Burnley will need every penny of their promotion windfall if Coylecan do the unexpected and beat United. [LNB]Up for it: Burnley boss Owen Coyle[LNB]But Kilby has watched the exploits of Stoke City and Hull City this season and taken heart. [LNB]He said: 'I wouldn't bet your house on what could happen but we'llcertainly have a go and I'm not frightened of it. People tend to groupus in with the Sheffield clubs or Wolves because of tradition, but oursize is actually smaller than Rochdale. This is an old-fashioned cluband it is supported by directors' loans.' [LNB]With 36,000 fans - about half the town - heading to Wembley onMonday, Kilby admitted that he will be nervous, but not as much as hewas when Burnley beat Leyton Orient on the last day of the 1986-87season to preserve their Football League status. [LNB]Kilby revealed that the club are in talks with Coyle about extendinghis contract, which has two years left, and that he appointed him 18months ago only because he was on holiday in Scotland. [LNB]He said: 'Owen was recommended to me but I only met him because itwas half-term and I was in Scotland already. But I was impressedstraight away and what he has done has been magnificent.' [LNB] Eagles soaring towards the top flight thanks to words of wisdom from Manchester United boss Sir AlexThe side with fuel to Burn: Coyle's promotion hopefuls just keep on goingPlease release me! Who's gone and who's going from every club[LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail