BURNLEY FC chairman Barry Kilby has jumped to the club's rescue once again with a £1million offer to buy the Clarets' leisure centre.

Mr Kilby has already injected more than £3million from his own pocket into the club he supported as a boy.

But with Turf Moor club still in financial straits following a dramatic downturn in income caused by the loss of TV money and spiralling costs, Kilby's latest proposition would soften the blow by swelling the coffers by around £950,000.

Kilby said: "It's quite simple really. This football club needs money and the proposal is that I will make a capital sale by buying the leisure centre for a fee just short of £1million.

"In effect, I will then become the landlord, rather than the club. The sale would be just the same as if we sold a player for £1million, with the money going straight into the pot to help the running of the business.

"All this needs to be done above board and the right way to take it forward is at the annual meeting later this month.

"It is a straight cash offer that we are proposing, with a recommendation that it is ratified."

The proposal allows Burnley Football Club the right to buy back the leisure centre at the same price at any time two years from any sale.

The leisure centre, located just behind the James Hargreaves Stand at Turf Moor, opened its doors for the first time in October, 1997, thanks to financing form the club, the Sports Lottery Council and Burnley Council's Challenge Fund.

Since then, it has established itself as a popular venue, thanks to state-of-the-art facilities including a recently refurbished sports hall and gymnasium.

However, the adjoining Cafe Claret, which had offered refreshments and was open for football fans on match days, recently closed its doors due to a lack of business.

The annual meeting takes place on Monday, December 22, at Turf Moor.