AS AN exiled Burnley FC supporter living in Perth, Western Australia, I would like to say how pleased I was to see a tribute to Jimmy McIlroy and the rest of the 1960's Championship side at the Turf.

Obviously, I couldn't be there but was given a full description by all the local members of the Burnley FC e-mail group, and of course your newspaper's excellent Internet site.

We can't live in the past but we can remember them. Footballing times have changed and contrary to some opinions, current Burnley fans do not expect to return to those glory days.

However, the failure of previous Burnley managements to recognise past heroes of the club has been an absolute disgrace. It says volumes for the new chairman, Barry Kilby, and the vice-chairman Ray Ingleby that this situation has now been rectified.

I think a lot of the problems the Clarets have faced over the last 20 years has been more to do with boardroom incompetence than lack of player skills.

Therefore, the takeover involving Mr Kilby and the involvement of Mr Ingleby is a gigantic step forward.

Burnley FC receives amazing support - in Perth we have over 15 members of the Western Australian Clarets Supporters - and in the past they have been rewarded by being treated with complete contempt.

Mr Kilby has turned that around, talking and listening to supporters and letting them know what is happening with the club

JEAN THORNTON, Western

Australia.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.