RESIDENTS fighting the sale of a recreation ground near their homes to Burnley Cricket Club have stepped up their campaign on the eve of a major clear-the-air public meeting.

Scores of supporters and opponents are expected at the meeting in the Thompson Centre on Monday to discuss the club's plan to take over the council-owned Fulledge fairground site to provide a new ground and pavilion.

But residents against the scheme say the club has refused their call for an independent chairman and say none of their representatives have been asked to address the meeting.

And today householders' spokesman Jack Howorth cried "foul" over a move by the club to send out petitions to other clubs calling for support for the multi-million pound project.

Burnley Football Club wants to buy the present Turf Moor cricket ground, buying Fulledge, building a new ground and pavilion for the cricketers and handing a lump sum to the cash-strapped club to safeguard its future.

Mr Howorth said: "When will they realise that this is not a numbers game? In fact, it is not a game at all.

"Anyone can sign a petition when it does not affect them personally, but this project would adversely affect the quality of life for a large number of Fulledge residents."

Residents say they will question whether the cricket club is really being offered a good deal by the football club and whether they would be better off selling just a part of the present ground to the soccer chiefs and staying put.

A spokesman for the cricket club said the meeting would allow a full public presentation of the plans which they believe would enhance the Fulledge area.

They have warned that if the deal does not go through, the club's financial problems would worsen to crisis levels.

The spokesman said there would be a full opportunity for people attending the meeting, which starts at 7.30pm on Monday, to ask questions.

Burnley Council recreation chiefs are expected to decide next month whether they are prepared to sell the public land to the club -- a decision which will make or break the project.