WE’LL be back! Civic leaders, business chiefs and celebrity fans believe the town should be proud of the Clarets this season – and they could be just one season away from a return to the big-time.

Despite winning 1-0 at Hull, other results on Saturday meant that Sean Dyche’s side will return to the Championship next season.

Relegation was confirmed with two games to spare, but the mayor of Burnley, Cllr Andrew Tatchell, believes they could be back in the top flight sooner rather than later.

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He said: “If somebody had said they would still be in the mix with four games to go, you would have taken that. They have done really well this season.

“There is nothing like the exposure you get from being in the Premier League. I’ve got family in Australia and my wife has a cousin in Tennessee and they’ve been asking about Burnley because they hear about the Premier League.

“They are only one season away from coming back as well. They will get good money from this season and if they can keep the squad together and keep Sean Dyche, they have a chance.”

Former Emmerdale actor and Clarets fan Richard Moore said: “I think the club have conducted themselves with dignity both on and off the field this season, and we should be proud of that.

“There will always be talk of what might have been and missed opportunities, but they’ve played to the very best of their ability and you can’t ask for more than that.

“Burnley Football Club has won a lot of friends this season.”

The season may have ended in disappointment, but business leaders in the town believe a year of exposure in the Premier League has done wonders for the town.

Burnley-based businessman Dave Fishwick, star of the TV show Bank of Dave, said: “I was absolutely gutted when they went down. To win on Saturday and still go down just doesn’t seem fair.

“It has been brilliant for the economy though. The whole town has benefited from being in the Premier League.

“The team have given it their all. They are proud to wear the shirt and we are proud of the effort they have put in.”

Businessman Andrew Brown, who runs the Crow Wood leisure complex, said: “I don’t think it’s a surprise they’ve gone down but they’ve fought hard and there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

“It’s been a good year for the town. There is a real buzz around the place at the moment and the club has added to that. “They’ve no debt and there are some clubs in the Championship with massive debts, so they are well placed to come straight back up.”