BURNLEY and Blackburn Rovers could be stopped from playing home Premier League matches at the same time next season.

Police have said they may step in if Clarets and Rovers home games clash so resources were not stretched.

East Lancashire has joined Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and London as regions with more than one top flight team, placing a greater emphasis on matchday policing.

But senior officers have already begun meeting to plan ahead for the logistics of Burnley’s and Blackburn’s Premier League encounters next season.

Police are confident that most games will not clash, with matches set to be scheduled for various times on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at the behest of Sky and Setanta TV.

However, it is understood officers could request a fixture is moved if, for example, Rovers and Clarets are both scheduled to play at home at the same time.

Chief Insp Jeff Brown, matchday commander at Turf Moor, said: “In Burnley, we have played Premier League teams many times before.

"We have had Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and others.

“In the Premier League, games are dictated by TV and played across the weekend, so the chances of clashes are reduced.

“We might talk to Sky and talk about changing kick-off times because in reality we would not want Blackburn and Burnley kicking off at the same time.”

Senior officers now plan more meetings throughout the summer to prepare for next season, with the Premier League set to announce the full fixture list on June 17.

However, police say East Lancashire is ready for double the amount of top-flight football in 2009/10.

Mr Brown added: “We have got a lot of meetings going on around football at the moment to discuss intelligence and contingency plans.”