BURNLEY have denied that the club is the subject of takeover bids from the United States and the Middle East.

A national newspaper report today said the two parties were in talks over an £180million takeover of the Clarets.

But while the club remains open to further investment from outside sources, a spokesman insisted there had been no contact with parties from the US or the Middle East.

Writing in the matchday programme for Saturday's visit of Everton to Turf Moor, chairman Mike Garlick confirmed the Clarets were set to post a healthy profit once again this year.

He said: "As everyone will know, we are an extremely well-run club that lives firmly within its means. Our soon-to-be-released annual finances will again confirm this, with another healthy profit registered.

"That doesn't mean we aren't prepared to spend where we see fit, as is evident from the improvements made to the playing side.

"But the general infrasturcture and longevity of off-the-field projects are equally important and to this end, we've balanced things really well, I feel, in taking the club forwards in recent years."

The Clarets made a £3.7million loss for the financial year covering the promotion season from the Championship thanks to bonuses totalling just over £11million being paid out.

They posted a profit of over £30million from their last set of financial results for a Premier League season, in the 2014/15 season.