THE Peter Shackleton camp today angrily denied that outside help had been sought to raise funds for their bid for Burnley Football Club.

Shackleton claims to be backed by the enormous wealth of a privately owned company which deals in oil and mineral reserves.

The takeover bidder had previously stated that the wealth of his backers ran into billions.

It is now known the reserved assets of the company are nearer 750 million dollars.

The clubs backers have, however, verified the true figure - a huge sum. And the club were today waiting for the first lump of that package to arrive with the club.

A spokesman for the Shackleton group said that local Burnley businessmen had approached them with a view to joining their bid.

But their offers were rejected when unacceptable conditions were suggested.

Barcelona-based businessman Ian Burns explained that the timing of the deal depended on another merger, expected "within a week".

He said: "The delays are nothing whatsoever to do with Peter.

"It is not a definitive cut off point.

"These things are so large the accountants and lawyers run to a pace which they feel is equitable to them.

"It would be extremely remiss to say that's the cut off.

"But there is a feeling we are now running to the end of this particular part of the exercise."

Meanwhile, the new Turf Moor pitch will be put to an instant test with Burnley playing at home on the opening day of the season for the first time in three seasons when the new campaign kicks-off on August 8.

Bristol Rovers will supply the first opposition for the new management team of Stan Ternent and Sam Ellis.

Rovers helped keep the Clarets in the Second Division last season by beating Brentford on the final day of the season.

And while Burnley won't lay down the welcome mat, they will hope to unveil a pristine new playing surface if the £200,000 project has met its tight growing deadline.

Clarets defender Mark Winstanley is happy with a home game first up as Burnley look to avoid the kind of dreadful start they endured last term when they didn't win a League game until the 11th time of asking.

He said: "It's good to start at home, you get the fans behind you and hopefully we will get a good start.

"Results-wise we had a bad start last season. We played some decent stuff but results didn't go for us and we were playing catch-up from then. We definitely don't want to do that again."

Fixtures that immediately catch the eye are the trips to Maine Road to take on Manchester City on October 3 and to Stoke City's Britannia Stadium at the sharp end of the season on April 24 in an intruiging run-in which finishes against Kevin Keegan's Fulham and beaten play-off finalists Northampton.

The derby clashes against Preston are on November 7 at Deepdale and March 13 at Turf Moor.

Mark Winstanley has today agreed a new two-year deal at Turf Moor.

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