BURNLEY are pressing ahead with plans for a new half-a-million pound training complex at Gawthorpe.

The idea to revamp the club's training facilities was mooted earlier this season by manager Stan Ternent.

And the club's board has agreed to formally pursue plans to build a new gym, changing rooms, physio's room, offices and hospitality area for the parents of young players, as well as work to improve some of the pitches.

"We made the decision to apply for planning permission to redevelop Gawthorpe," confirmed Clarets chairman Barry Kilby. "We would hope to get it built next season.

"We have talked about piecemeal improvements but we are going to go the whole hog."

The project, which Kilby said would cost over £500,000 if given the go-ahead, will mean flattening and replacing the existing building at Gawthorpe which is now past its best.

Supporters groups may contribute towards the scheme through a trust fund that has been set up, although inevitably the club will foot virtually all of the bill.

"It's in the normal budget to pay for it. We've thought long and hard about it and this is where the future lies," Kilby added. "You could spend that kind of money on a player but a club like this needs to bring young players through.

"Burnley has a really proud tradition of that and it has lost its way, although we have got some good ones coming through now."

The club currently has indoor facilities at the Turf Moor leisure centre. But because of the funding arrangements, they have to be made available to the public.

Ternent therefore wants a facility exclusively for the Clarets use for day-to-day training of the senior players and for the development of the next generation through the club's schools of excellence.

"The benefit will be two-fold," stressed Kilby.

The club intends to quickly lodge plans with the local authority and, while guaranteeing Second Division status remains the number one priority, this development and the appointment of a general manager in Andrew Watson shows that things are starting to head in the right direction on and off the pitch. "Andrew is looking to maximise revenue on that side and there is a sense of optimism and purpose about the place which I'm happy with," added Kilby, who remains hopeful of attracting further investment into the club in the not-too-distant future.

Meanwhile, Andy Payton today collected the first of several pieces of silverware to mark his goal-scoring achievements.

The Clarets 23-goal striker has swept the board at the various Burnley supporters' clubs end-of-season awards.

Payton was the obvious choice as the fans' player-of-the-year after enjoying a prolific first full campaign at Turf Moor and being one of the few constants of a transitional season.

Before today's game against Fulham he received his trophies from Burnley Supporters Club and Boundary Clarets. And the awards from Accrington, Colne and Rossendale Clarets will follow in the next week or so when those clubs hold their own presentation nights.

Teenage winger Brad Maylett will also be weighed down with trophies after getting the nod from the Burnley, Accrington, Colne, Boundary and Rossendale clubs as their top young player.

Maylett, whose performances have been rewarded with his first professional contract at Turf Moor, has had a highly encouraging season.

And while no-one would begrudge him the recognition, central defender Matty Heywood can count himself unlucky to miss out on the prizes after starting 13 first-team games and looking at home in the Second Division.

Tom Cowan is another multiple winner for his spectacular overhead kick against Macclesfield which has earned him the Keith McNee goal-of-the-season award from Burnley Supporters Club, as well as the top goal prize from Accrington and Boundary Clarets.

However, Rossendale Clarets hung on long enough to give their goal-of-season award to Ally Pickering for his strike at Stoke last Saturday.

And the full-back was also set to receive a special award from Boundary Clarets today for his contribution in the Stoke game just a few days after the death of his father.

Peter Swan, sidelined since January, has successfully come through an operation to repair knee ligament damage.

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