TURF Moor looks set for further redevelopment with talks underway aimed at the possible upgrading of the Cricket Field Stand.

The Clarets and Burnley Cricket Club are in discussions over a twin project which would see the current away end at Turf Moor re-vamped and the cricket club facilities improved to make the club a leading force in the Lancashire League.

A joint statement was issued today from the board of directors of each club giving brief details of the possible development.

However, it stressed that no further comment would be made by an official of either party "until there is something substantive to report, which is likely to be a number of months."

The statement said: "We would confirm representatives of each board have met to discuss issues of joint interest, which have mainly revolved around two items.

Redevelopment of the Cricket Field end of Turf Moor.

To provide new, local, state-of-the-art facilities for the cricket club and ensure their financial long-term future. This will give the opportunity for the club to be the strongest in the Lancashire Cricket League.

"We believe both of these aims are in the best interest of both parties and will give an exciting future and promote football and cricket in Burnley and a wider area."

Turf Moor has undergone a massive facelift in recent years with the building of the Jimmy McIlroy East Stand and the James Hargreaves North Stand in the mid-1990s making it one of the best grounds in Division Two.

A redevelopment of the Cricket Field Stand would further equip the club for First Division football. And with the club and supporters apparently keen to restore that end of the ground to a stand for home supporters, it's possible that a re-design would allow that to happen.

"It would be nice to see it come back for home fans," said Phil Miller, chairman of the Accrington Clarets.

"That always was a big home end, with at most a third taken up with away fans.

"I used to have a season-ticket behind the nets and it is the best stand for making any noise.

"And if you've got a big crowd like for Preston and Blackpool at the moment the team is running out from the away fans.

"It's the same at half-time when the players have to troop off. They must want to go off in front of the home fans."

The outline proposals have been well received by Miller, despite a note of caution.

"We would welcome anything like that. But if you look at the position we are in this season, apart from the big derbies and the Ian Wright factor, there are a lot of empty seats which would be the case if we weren't to go up.

"Also where is the money going to come from when it could be spent a little bit elsewhere?

"But it is a bit of a chicken and an egg situation. If you go up you could expect bigger crowds and hopefully we can get into the play-offs and make it up.

"And if you're talking about First Division football hopefully there will be bigger crowds and maybe it will work."

He added: "If that was another piece in the jigsaw that would be great and it's nice to see that the board are looking at things like this.

"There are still executive boxes to be filled in the East Stand and we have got to walk before we can run. But it's nice to see that the board has ambitions and plans.

"It's a bit sketchy at the moment but at least the new board is always looking ahead."

And Alan Beecroft of Colne Clarets also gave the plans his blessing.

"I'm not saying it's the final piece in the jigsaw but it's a good idea and probably needs doing. "And if success does come and you could have a two-tier stand you could allocate the lower tier to away fans. It would give you more flexibility," he said.

There has been no talk of funding at the moment. But with the cricket club involved, it's possible that money from the Lottery pool could be available.

The Clarets stayed in fifth place in the table after Gillingham lost 1-0 at Wycombe last night. And Stoke took just a point from their game in hand in a 2-2 draw at Bristol City, which leaves them four points adrift of Stan Ternent's men.

The Clarets reserves are back in Pontins League Premier Division action at Turf Moor tonight when they face Oldham Athletic for the second time in three days (kick-off 7.15).

Gerry Harrison, Brad Maylett and John Williamson are not included which must give Burnley one of the youngest sides they have ever fielded at this level.

Burnley reserves: Mawson, Leeson, Devenney, Scott, Heywood, Shandran, Clark, Kelly, Bowden, Davis, Waine, Pilkington, Barrett, O'Neil, Fogarty, Paxton (gk).

Oxford have stressed that Burnley's visit to the Manor Ground on Saturday, April 15 is strictly all-ticket with no tickets available on the day.

Colne Clarets leave for Cardiff on Saturday at 7am from the Morris Dancers and 7.15 from the Cafe Claret.

Rossendale Clarets have spaces available on their coach to Cardiff. Phone 01706 224924.

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