Burnley won't throw chequebook at top flight

10:00am Saturday 14th November 2009

By Suzanne Geldard

BURNLEY chief executive Paul Fletcher insists the Clarets can keep holding their own in the Premier League without throwing the chequebook at their top flight adventure.

Reports had suggested manager Owen Coyle would be looking for a £30million transfer kitty should they survive their first season.

The Scot has so far worked miracles on a shoestring budget, as Burnley consolidated 10th place before the international break through a 3-3 draw at Manchester City – the wealthiest club in world football.

And Fletcher believes that latest result, backed up by home wins over Manchester United, Everton, Sunderland, Birmingham and Hull, proves cash isn’t a pre-requisite for staying up.

“Last Saturday showed you that Burnley Football Club isn’t going to win matches through throwing a fat chequebook at it. The only way you are going to win matches is by having the same goal, attitude, and the most important ingredient of all, hard work,” said the Clarets chief.

Of the £30m warchest touted, he added: “That’s paper talk. Owen Coyle doesn’t talk about things like that outside the boardroom.

“The budget is for Owen, Barry Kilby, Brendan Flood to discuss, and maybe myself. It’s not the sort of comment Owen would make.

“Anyone can speculate on what is needed if and when we do stay up this season, but that won’t be through getting the chequebook out, it’ll be by encouraging players to give their ultimate skill and effort.”

Coyle has long acknowledged that he is working with the smallest squad in the Premier League, but he is pleased with how his players are adapting to life in the top division.

“Any money we’ve had we’ve invested in younger players, who we’d hope would grow with us and become better players,” he said.

“If we’d have tried to bring in established Premier League players, we wouldn’t have been able to afford their fee or their salary. But that suits me.

“I want to bring in young players who I can mould and make better, Steven Fletcher being an example, who can serve this club for years to come.

"We couldn’t go out and spend £20m and lose our place in the league, because then we’d be on a downward spiral, which has happened to some other clubs, who are now in the third tier of English football.

“So, we have done our best to attract younger players, who will give us consistency and longevity, to protect the club.”