BOSSES at UCFB have reiterated their long-term commitment to Burnley amid fears the football college was in the ‘death throes’.

Concerns were raised about the future of the Burnley campus at Turf Moor after it was revealed the college no longer offers undergraduate degrees in the town and that accommodation was standing empty with former Burnley MP Gordon Birtwhistle warning it was in the ‘death throes’.

However Brendan Flood, chairman of UCFB who helped launch it in 2011, said Burnley was the college’s ‘spiritual home’ and the board has a long-term commitment to Turf Moor with its current contract taking them to 2023.

It came as the college announced the launch of a girls’ football academy which is due to open in September.

The academy is part of a collaboration between Burnley FC in the Community and Nelson and Colne College and will offer 16 to 18-year-old girls the opportunity to study BTECs or A-levels as well as receive eight hours of coaching and the chance to play for Burnley FC Girls and Ladies.

Mr Flood said the Burnley campus has been transformed into a hub for local students to study at BTEC and A-level which ‘has been highly positive for the town and region around Burnley’.

UCFB still offers undergraduate degrees tailored for football and sport businesses at its campuses in Wembley and Manchester.

Mr Flood said after considering the best interests of each community and the size of student demand, the college struck the deal for the girls’ football academy.

Mr Flood said: “Many of our UCFB Burnley undergraduate students had come from across the country previously, whereas we are now using our Turf Moor campus to service a far more local pool of students.

“We are now allowing aspirational young footballers from the region to receive training with the Burnley FC shadow youth team, whilst at the same time providing them education provision inside Turf Moor.

“Our links to the region and football club are deep and far-reaching.

“Many of our students and graduates are employed by Burnley FC and businesses associated with the football club, reflecting the success of our initial vision.

“We are proud of the educational opportunities that we are providing at UCFB.

“We strongly believe that we have changed the sport education model and the business of sport for the better.”

He added now the vast majority of students are local they do not require student accommodation and are in talks to find an alternative use for the Sparrow Hawk Hotel in Church Street. The Crown Hotel, which UCFB invested £400,000 in for student accommodation, is back to being used as a hotel.

Around 100 students are enrolled on the BTEC programme at UCFB Burnley with numbers expected to grow with the girl’s academy. There are around 1,500 students across all campuses.

Trials for the Girls’ Academy will begin this month. To find out more contact Burnley FC in the Community on 01282 704716 or email education@burnleyfc.com.