A FOOTBALL club has finalised plans to provide a multi-million pound disabled upgrade for its supporters next year.

Burnley FC have revealed it will build dedicated, covered viewing platforms and new toilet facilities by August 2018.

The work will take place within two corners of Turf Moor, between the Jimmy McIlroy stand and both the James Hargreaves and Bob Lord stands, the giant screen will also be move to another section of the stadium.

Work to construct the new viewing platforms is expected to take around six months and will involve a consultation with a number of fans who may be affected by this work.

Following this build, a dedicated, indoor ticket office waiting area will be constructed to complement the existing building and replace the temporary canopy.

The work will bring the Premier League outfit inline with the Accessible Stadium Guide regulations, as part of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which outline minimum requirements at all top-flight grounds.

However, Clarets chairman Mike Garlick revealed there will be no other ground developments to increase the overall capacity of Turf Moor in the short-term, unless an increase in demand for seats forces a re-think.

Barrie Oliver, of the Burnley Football Supporters Club, said he was looking forward to seeing the new disabled platforms when they are completed.

He said: "Obviously this is a fantastic idea and I'm really glad there's going to be dedicated platforms for those who use wheelchairs.

"It's great because it means fans who may have had doubts about coming to a match will be able to be to get in and around the stadium and it will encourage more fans to come and support their club.

"We have a disabled area but it is within the away stand so a dedicated corner will be fantastic.

"There are many fans who watch the match by the touchline and are happy there, but this will be liked by many.

"The new provisions will be a great addition to the club."

The work will take infrastructure spending to around £20million in the past two years, which included new office space, a bigger Clarets store, ticket office and a major uplift to the Barnfield Training Centre.

Mr Garlick said: "Many Premier League clubs with older stadiums have encountered similar challenges in how to logistically deliver on a commitment following this new Equality and Human Rights Commission ruling.

"We now feel we have a scheme that will finally offer disabled supporters’ facilities that are on a par with able-bodied supporters.

"Much hard work has gone on behind the scenes to get to the stage where we can present what we are intending to do in two corners of the stadium in the coming year but I think it’s appropriate to clarify that no further plans are currently in place.

“In addition we probably only ‘sell out’ the stadium three or four times in a Premier League season, and you don’t need me to tell you who those games are against.

“I know, for example, Watford are looking at increasing the capacity of Vicarage Road by 3,000 to 4,000, but theirs is a different scenario.

"My understanding is there is a waiting list of 3,000 supporters for season tickets, so there is clearly a demand for an uplift.

"We don’t yet have that luxury, so we do feel the current capacity fits our needs at present.

"Should that change and we end up locking people out, then it would be remiss of us not to look at that scenario, but as it stands I feel Turf Moor’s current capacity serves us well."

Burnley, who edged past Watford with a 1-0 win on Saturday, currently sit seventh in the league on 28points, two behind Liverpool, who occupy a Champions League spot.

Stadium and operations manager Doug Metcalfe said this development was significant.

He said: "It’s been well documented that our disabled supporter facilities could be better, and we need to provide a view and an environment that is equivalent to the general seating within the stadium.

“We are at the end of a design stage now and in both corners of the ground, at either end of the Jimmy McIlroy stand, we are looking at different platform levels, where supporters can enjoy a great view in sheltered surroundings, with easy access, a concession facilities and toilets.

"It’s a large and challenging project and this is not about cost, but about doing the right thing.

"We have embraced this step change and look forward to getting going in the new year, with a six-to-seven month build time."