WEST Bromwich Albion are considering a player-plus-cash offer to try to tempt Burnley into parting with Richard Chaplow.

The Premiership strugglers are desperately trying to secure a deal to sign Argentine midfielder Matias Almeyda on a free transfer from Italian side Brescia.

But with the deal at a stalemate after the 31-year-old failed to arrive in England for talks this week, manager Bryan Robson is ready to turn his attention to Chaplow instead as he looks to boost the Baggies fight for survival.

Albion midfielder James O'Connor, currently nearing the end of his three-month loan spell at Turf Moor, could be a timely makeweight in any deal that Robson is ready to table.

And with Burnley desperately short of firepower following Robbie Blake's recent departure to Birmingham, out-of-favour hitman Rob Hulse could also form part of a tempting package.

However, Burnley boss Steve Cotterill fought long and hard in the summer to tie up rising star Chaplow on a new four-year deal.

And the England U20 ace is unlikely to be going anywhere in the near future unless any deal matches Cotterill's own valuation.

Ironically, Chaplow was set to make his first start in almost three months in this afternoon's Championship clash with Reading.

The 19-year-old has made brief appearances as a substitute in the last three games after recovering from a knee injury.

And as Cotterill's injury list improves, long-term absentees Danny Coyne and Jean-Louis Valois were expected to return to the substitutes bench after recovering form knee and hamstring trouble respectively.

Meanwhile, businessman Ray Griffiths has finally been voted onto the board of directors at Turf Moor.

Griffiths, who became a major shareholder in the club during 2004, was formally elected at a board meeting earlier this week.

A Burnley supporter of over 50 years, Griffiths is former chairman of Target Express Parcels, where he remains involved despite his retirement.

Based in the Rossendale Valley, he also has other involvements in a property company and various other business interests.

Griffiths said: "I'd like to thank the board members for voting me on and we all hope to keep the club moving forward.

"I've had an executive box at Turf Moor for a number of years with my family and friends and now that I've retired and got a bit more time on my hands, I wanted to get more involved."

Griffiths replaces outgoing board member Bob Blakeborough, whose resignation was confirmed at the annual general meeting last month.