BURNLEY could be ready to strengthen their board with the appointment of wealthy local businessman Chris Duckworth.

Clarets chairman Barry Kilby confirmed that he had held talks with the long-standing Burnley fan about the possibility of becoming a director.

And Duckworth's position is due to be discussed at a Turf Moor board meeting on Thursday.

If Duckworth is appointed as a director it would get the Burnley board back up to five following the resignation of former chairman Frank Teasdale.

However, the articles of the company don't stipulate that the Clarets need a replacement and the possible introduction of Duckworth is not connected with Teasdale's recent decision to step down.

Read-based Duckworth, a Clarets season-ticket holder for the last 35 years, has a strong commercial background with particular expertise in the internet and new media sector.

Having started out in accountancy in Blackburn, Duckworth moved down south for a spell and switched his focus to information technology and took a couple of firms to a listing in the stock exchange.

In recent times he has invested in the start-up of three companies and the biggest, Manchester-based Telecity, was floated in June.

That earned Duckworth a windfall which would put him in a position to take a stake in Burnley and become a welcome addition to the Clarets' board.

In addition, his background in internet operations would be highly useful for the Clarets who, along with the rest of the other Nationwide League clubs, have signed up to a new internet agreement with NTL.

If successful the business may be floated as a public listed company in the future and the best performing clubs within it are set to cash in the most.