RAY Ingleby was set to deliver a cheque - believed to be worth around £600,000 - to Burnley chairman Barry Kilby today as the Clarets prepared to receive a cash injection of almost £4 million.

Three-quarters of that sum has come from Kilby himself who has fully taken up his own rights and those of the other board members in the club's share issue which closes at 5pm today.

With just less than £4 million in bought shares expected to have been pledged by the deadline, almost £1 million is left to be made up by other investors.

Ingleby - who is now set to get a seat on the board - had the option of buying £1.4 million worth of shares in the two-for-one issue but clearly that has not been the case.

If Burnley businessman John Turkington was to take up his right to buy £200,000 worth of shares then Ingleby would be responsible for much of the rest - minus the small shareholders who have also dug deep.

"I have been very pleased by the small take-up which is starting to come in," confirmed Kilby.

The whole picture will not become clear until the deadline has passed but the chairman is encouraged by the level of investment at this stage. "I am happy if Ray Ingleby is putting some in and if John Tukrington puts some in because they are the next biggest shareholders.

"I am pleased but this is just the first step really. The next one is also important and I have got meetings lined up with several people who have expressed an interest at all levels," Kilby added.

That refers to potential investors who will be able to buy shares allotted to them by the board once the rights issue has closed. They could make up the shortfall and take the total value of shares sold towards the £5.5 million mark which would be around the maximum amount the Clarets would hope to raise given the humber of 'dead' shares which have been lost down the years.

Meanwhile Stan Ternent has labelled record purchase Steve Davis a bargain-buy at £750,000. Davis returned to Turf Moor for the same fee that he left three-and-a-half years previously when Ternent lured him back from Luton at Christmas.

The fans' favourite has repaid that faith by helping the Clarets reap seven points from the last 12.

And the central defender's winner at Millwall on Saturday was his second goal in just four games to give him an incredible 12 for the season so far.

That represents good business for Ternent who will have the 30-year-old as the cornerstone of his side for the next few seasons after Davis signed a four-and-a-half-year contract on his return north.

"I think's he's a snip," insisted Ternent. "He's a top quality player."

Ternent has also been pleased with the impact of Micky Mellon who cost £350,000 from Tranmere Rovers in another case of money well spent.

Mellon has added an attacking dimension to the Clarets' midfield, although he is yet to open his goalscoring account.

"Micky had a good game on Saturday as well. He has that ability to get up and down from end to end," Ternent added. Former Burnley boss Chris Waddle could be set for a return to management with Third Division strugglers Hartlepool.

Waddle, who left Turf Moor after just one season in charge last summer, was recently appointed to the coaching staff at Sheffield Wednesday.

But Hartlepool are reported to be lining up the England international as a replacement for Mick Tait, who was axed last week. If Waddle returns to the north-east, he will be reunited with former Newcastle team-mate Peter Beardsley who recently joined Pool until the end of the season.

Rossendale Clarets are taking an extra coach to Burnley's game at Lincoln on Saturday. Anyone interested should contact Bev on 01706 224924.

Colne Clarets travels details for the Lincoln trip are: leave Morris Dancers 10am, picking up on the way to Burnley, prices £7 adults and £5 juveniles.

Colne Clarets are staging a quiz between teams of past and present Burnley players at Cole Cricket Club on Wednesday, February 10, start 7.30pm.

Ticket details from Alan Beecroft on 01282 864147 or Tony Bannister 01282 705520.

Boundary Clarets leave Duke Bar 10.45, Turf Moor 10.50, Padiham 11.05. Prices £8 members, £9 non-members £7 concesions. Ring 705425 (evening) 832100 (day).

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