CLARETS chairman Frank Teasdale has given the nod for the first £200,000 of Peter Shackleton's takeover cash to be spent on returfing Turf Moor.

But the club were still today waiting for the arrival of the £1 million up-front 'loan' from Shackleton's backers.

Work starts on Wednesday on the five-week reconstruction - an indication that Teasdale in confident that the money is due to arrive from Switzerland at any moment.

It is hoped the new surface - replacing a pitch which has caused problems throughout Burnley's struggle to stay in the Second Division - will be ready for the start of the new season.

As a gesture to fans, small squares of turf are due to go on sale at the club shop from tomorrow lunchtime for £1 each.

The new pitch is due to be moved 2.6 metres towards the James Hargreaves Stand to aid viewing.

A total of 350mm of soil will be removed and a new modern irrigation system which throws water onto the pitch from the sides will replace the 30 sprinker heads currently scattered around the surface.

The work will be carried out by Sportsmac in conjunction with pitch consultants Grass Science.

The new pitch will be a mixture of fibre and sand, previously used to repair the goalmouth areas, which is used to help grass take root preventing this season's break-up and bare patches.

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